(1)Where a petition has been filed under Section 16 the District Judge, or any judicial officer subordinate to him and not below the rank of a Subordinate ,Judge other than an Officer exercising the powers of a Subordinate Judge ex-officio (hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the Judge) to whom the District ,Judge may transfer the petition, may after holding such inquiry as he deems necessary, in accordance with the prescribed procedure and subject to the provisions of Section 18 and19 pass an order confirming or amending the declared result of the election or setting the election aside.
