Section 31 in The Orissa Grama Panchayats Act, 1964
31. Presentation of petitions.
(1)The petition shall be presented on one or more of the grounds specified in Section 39 before the [Civil Judge (Junior Division)] [Substituted vide O.G.E. No. 593 Notification No. 7703-Legislative dated 28.5.2001.] having jurisdiction over the place at which the office of the Grama Sasan is situated together with a deposit of such amount, if any, as may be prescribed in that behalf as security for costs within fifteen days after the date on which the name of the person elected is published under Section 15 :Provided that if the office of the [Civil Judge (Junior Division)] [Substituted vide O.G.E. No. 593 Notification No. 7703-Legislative dated 28.5.2001.] is closed on the last day of the period o,f limitation as aforesaid the petition may be presented on the next day on which such office is open :Provided further that if the petitioner satisfies the [Civil Judge (Junior Division)] [Substituted vide O.G.E. No. 593 Notification No. 7703-Legislative dated 28.5.2001.] that sufficient cause existed for the failure to present the petition within the period aforesaid the [Civil Judge (Junior Division)] [Substituted vide O.G.E. No. 593 Notification No. 7703-Legislative dated 28.5.2001.] may in his discretion condone such failure.(2)No candidate who has been elected to be a member, Sarpanch or Naib-Sarpanch of a Grama Panchayat shall be debarred from holding office as such member, Sarpanch or Naib-Sarpanch merely by reason of any election petition having been filed against him unless his election has been declared void by the [Civil Judge (Junior Division)] [Substituted vide O.G.E. No. 593 Notification No. 7703-Legislative dated 28.5.2001.].
