UMED SINGH RAO vs MANI RAM GODARA & ORS

The Supreme Court held that the Returning Officer acted appropriately in rejecting the nomination papers of two candidates in the Fatehabad Assembly by-election, and the High Court's observations regarding tampering were vacated. The Court emphasized the presumption of regularity in official acts and found no justification for the High Court's conclusion about the appellant's conduct. Consequently, the directions for sharing costs imposed by the High Court were also vacated, affirming that the appellant was not responsible for any alterations in the nomination papers.