In Brief
The appellant was elected as a Member of the Zilla Panchayat but his election was set aside by the Senior Civil Judge following an election petition. He challenged this in the High Court, ultimately arguing before the Supreme Court that the Senior Civil Judge lacked jurisdiction to try election disputes relating to Zilla Panchayats—which, under the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, must be tried by the District Judge. The Supreme Court held that the Senior Civil Judge had no jurisdiction, that consent cannot confer jurisdiction, and set aside all orders against the appellant, restoring his position as a Member of the Zilla Panchayat.
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