State Act

The Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Act, 1994

167. Procedure before the authorised officer.- (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any rules made thereunder every election petition shall be decided by the authorised officer 1[as expeditiously as possible and ordinarily] within a period of six months from the date of its presentation under section 163 in accordance with the procedure applicable under the code of Civil Procedure, 1908 ( 5 of 1908) to the trial of suits: Provided that the authorised officer shall have the discretion to refuse, for reasons to be recorded in writing, to examine any witness or witnesses if he is of the opinion that their evidence is not material for the decision of the petition or that the party tendering such witness or witnesses in doing so on frivolous grounds or with a view to delay the proceedings. (2) The provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872) shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be deemed to apply in all respects to the trial of an election petition.