Legislature to take away and interfere with these exclusive functions of the
judiciary by any legislation amending the law governing the election
adjudicated by the judiciary. Second, the insertion of these Acts in the Ninth
Schedule will not confer any immunity on the legislative measure if basic
features of the Constitution are damaged or destroyed on the ground that the
provisions contravene Part III of the Constitution. Third, any provision in the
legislative measures which has the effect of bringing about unfairness
between different rival candidates in the matter of election is discriminatory
and it not only contravenes Article 14 but also violates the implied limitation
on legislative power relating to free and fair elections. Fourth any
amendment of the law with retrospective operation governing an election
which has already been held necessary introduces an element of unfairness
and brings about a denial of equality amount rival candidate. Fifth, the
deeming clause introduced in the 1951 Act by Sections 6(b) and 8 (a) and (b)
of the Amendment Act, 1975 and the device of conclusive proof adopted by
Section 8 (c) in the Amendment Act, 1975 are unconstitutional
encroachments on judicial power. Sixth power conferred by an enactment
including a constitutional enactment has to so exercised as to give effect to
the guiding principles of the basic norms of that legislation and not so as to
military against those guiding principles or basic norms.
126. The definition of "candidate is amended by the Amendment Act 1975.
The contentions of the respondent on the amendment of the definition of
candidate are these. The expression returned candidate’’ is descriptive of the
person and the corrupt practices mentioned in Section 123 of the 1951 Act in
relation to candidate will not be confined to corrupt practices committed with
reference to the definition of ‘‘candidate’’. Corrupt practices alleged in
relation to candidates will be relatable to any period and will not be confined
to corrupt practices alleged between the date of nomination and the date of
election. If corrupt practices are committed by candidates who eventually
become returned candidates such corrupt practices will be offences within
meaning of Section 123 of the 1951 Act without any reference to the time of
commission.
127. Counsel on behalf of the respondent also contended as follows. The
basis of fair and free elections is that the election of a candidate will be
avoided any corrupt practice has been committed by the candidate by or with
the knowledge and consent of that candidate. The acts of a candidate may be
either enter to the date of nomination or it may be subsequent to the date of
nomination. Therefore, the Amendment Act, 1975 destroys and damages free
and fair election by allowing candidates to commit corrupt practices prior to
the date of nomination.
128. The Amendment Act, 1975 is also challenged as falling with in the
vice of delegated legislation by the amendments inserted as Explanation 3 to
Section 77 of the 1951 Act and the insertion of the proviso to Section 123 (7)
of 1951 Act. These provisions have already been noticed. Broadly stated
expenditure incurred by persons in Government service will not be deemed to
be for furtherance of the candidate’s election. The contentions are these. No