LILA KRISHAN vs MANI RAM GODARA & ORS

The Supreme Court held that the Returning Officer is not obligated to verify the entire Electoral Roll when scrutinizing nomination papers under Sections 33(4) and 36(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Court found that the High Court's conclusion that the Returning Officer acted mala fide was unwarranted, as there was no cogent evidence linking him to the alleged interpolation of the nomination papers. The appeal was allowed, and the election of the appellant was upheld, affirming the validity of the nomination papers.