DADASAHEB DATTATRAYA PAWAR & ORS. vs PANDURANG RAOJI JAGTAP & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that Section 144-1 of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, aligns with Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, establishing that principles governing election disputes under the latter must apply. The Court emphasized that to prove corrupt practices under Section 123(5), it is essential to demonstrate that a vehicle was hired for free conveyance of voters, and strict proof is required due to the quasi-criminal nature of such proceedings. The appeals were allowed, overturning the lower court's ruling on the grounds of insufficient evidence of corrupt practices.