Disputes relating to elections to be submitted to the Tribunal

Disputes relating to elections to be submitted to the Tribunal. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 96 or any other provisions of this Act, any dispute relating to an election shall be referred to the Tribunal.

(2) Such reference may be made by an aggrieved party by presenting an election petition to the Tribunal: Provided that no such petition shall be made till after the final result of the election is declared and where any such petition is made it shall not be admitted by the Tribunal unless it is made within two months form the date of such declaration : Provided further that, the Tribunal may admit any petition after the expiry of that period, if the petitioner satisfies the Tribunal that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the petition within the said period.

(3) In exercising the functions conferred on it by or under this Chapter, the Tribunal shall have the same powers as are vested in a Court in respect of — (a) proof of facts by affidavit; (b) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath ; (c) compelling discovery or the production of documents, and (d) issuing commissions for the examinations of witness. In the case of any such affidavit, an officer appointed by the Tribunal in this behalf may administer the oath to the

(4) Subject to any regulations made by the Tribunal in this behalf, any such petition shall be heard and disposed of by the Tribunal as expeditiously possible. An order made by the Tribunal on such petition shall be final and conclusive and shall not be called in question in any Court.