GANESH NATORAO RAUT DUDHAGAONKAR vs RAJANI SHANKARRAO SATAV & ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed an appeal under Section 116-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, concerning the validity of an election result based on the counting of ballot papers. The Court held that the Returning Officer correctly declared certain ballot papers as exhausted and did not err in excluding preferences for candidates who were eliminated in earlier rounds. The Court upheld the High Court's dismissal of the election petition, affirming the election of the respondent as valid under the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, particularly Rule 74 and Rule 75(3).