AMRUTLAL CHUNILAL RAVAL vs DATTATRAYA PANDURANG HAJARNIS & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under Section 16(1)(a) of the Maharashtra Municipalities Act, 1965, a person convicted of an offence with a maximum punishment of two years or more is disqualified from being elected as a Councillor unless five years have elapsed since their release. The Court found that the State Government's order reducing the disqualification period to six months was not retrospective and did not benefit the appellant regarding his election as President. Consequently, the Court upheld the lower court's decision to set aside the appellant's election.