"It is well settled that where a statute provides
for election to an office, or an authority or
institution and if it further provides a
machinery or forum for determination of dispute
arising out of election, the aggrieved person
should pursue his remedy before the forum
provided by the statute. While considering an
election dispute it must be kept in mind that the
right to vote, contest or dispute election is
neither a fundamental or common law right instead
it is a statutory right regulated by the
statutory provisions. It is not permissible to
invoke the jurisdiction of the High Court under
Art. 226 of the Constitution by-passing the
machinery designated by the Act for determination
of the election dispute. Ordinarily the remedy
provided by the statute must be followed before
the authority designated therein. But there may
be cases where exceptional or extraordinary
circumstances may exist to justify by-passing the
alternative remedies." (Para 6)
5.3 Like Section 58 in the Gujarat University
Act and Section 77 in the North Gujarat University
Act, similar provision being Section 59 exists in the
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C/LPA/101/2021 JUDGMENT
Sardar Patel University Act. The Division Bench of
this Court in Bipinchandra Purshottamdas Patel v.
Sardar Patel University being Special Civil
Application No.18564 of 2011 decided on 03rd February,
2012 followed the principles.
"It is well settled that where a statute provides
for election to an office, or an authority or
institution and if it further provides a
machinery or forum for determination of dispute
arising out of election, the aggrieved person
should pursue his remedy before the forum
provided by the statute. While considering an
election dispute it must be kept in mind that the
right to vote, contest or dispute election is
neither a fundamental or common law right instead
it is a statutory right regulated by the
statutory provisions. It is not permissible to
invoke the jurisdiction of the High Court under
Art. 226 of the Constitution by-passing the
machinery designated by the Act for determination
of the election dispute. Ordinarily the remedy
provided by the statute must be followed before
the authority designated therein. But there may
be cases where exceptional or extraordinary
circumstances may exist to justify by-passing the
alternative remedies." (Para 6)
5.3 Like Section 58 in the Gujarat University
Act and Section 77 in the North Gujarat University
Act, similar provision being Section 59 exists in the
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C/LPA/101/2021 JUDGMENT
Sardar Patel University Act. The Division Bench of
this Court in Bipinchandra Purshottamdas Patel v.
Sardar Patel University being Special Civil
Application No.18564 of 2011 decided on 03rd February,
2012 followed the principles.
In view of the above, the Court therefore considering the
decisions of the Supreme Court and in cases of Bipinchandra
Purushottandas Patel (supra) and Jasvantbhai Haribhai
Thakkar (supra) deems it fit that this Court should not entertain a
petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, particularly in
view of the fact that the election is scheduled to be held on
08.03.2020. In view of the available remedy under Section 58 of the
University Act, this petition is not entertained and is accordingly
dismissed.