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The present petition is being filed, inter alia, seeking a direction to the State Election Commission as well as Election Officer in charge of Palitana municipality to accept the mandate of the petitioners and allow them to contest election in accordance with law in the backdrop of unprecedented situation and in the case where mandate of the respective petitioners has failed to reach the office of the respondent election officer, failing which the election would not be a free and fair election and rather it would be an uncontested election since the mandate forms of all members of one political party have been torn apart so as to prevent them from filing their mandate within stipulated time and hence in turn to prevent them from contesting elections. It is stated that 15.02.2021 is the last day for scrutinizing of the forms by the election officer and hence if on or before 15.02.2021, the forms of the petitioners are not accepted and considered, then there would be no scope of intervention and would ultimately result in an uncontested election. It is required that the Hon'ble High Court in its plenary powers and extraordinary jurisdiction, urgently intervenes, failing which would not only render the cause, but also the idea of democratic values and free and fair elections, infructuous.

4.18 It is stated and submitted that the respondent Election Officer is in the know how of the entire incident and rather than acting upon it has only added to the woes of the petitioners.

4.19 It is stated and submitted that hence the present petition is being filed, inter alia, seeking a direction to the State Election Commission as well as Election Officer in charge of Palitana municipality to accept the mandate of the petitioners and allow them to contest election in accordance with law in the backdrop of unprecedented situation and in the case where mandate of the respective petitioners has failed to reach the office of the respondent election officer, failing which the election would not be a free and fair election and rather it would be an uncontested election since the mandate forms of all members of one political party have been torn apart so as to prevent them from filing their mandate within stipulated time and hence in turn to prevent them from contesting elections."