Sunil Haribhau Kale vs Avinash Gulabrao Mardikar And Ors

The Supreme Court held that the provisions of the Maharashtra Local Authority Member Disqualification Act, particularly Rule 3, govern the appointment and recognition of group leaders in municipal corporations. The Court emphasized that the authority to nominate a group leader lies with the party and must be adhered to by the members, as failure to comply can lead to disqualification under Rule 3(5). The Court upheld the Divisional Commissioner's decision to recognize the new group leader, affirming the legitimacy of the party's internal processes in accordance with the Act.