Strict pleading in corrupt practice election petitions requires material facts, valid verification, and affidavit support before trial proceeds.

An election petition alleging corrupt practice must strictly plead the complete material facts constituting the cause of action, not merely broad allegations, and must be supported by a valid verification and affidavit identifying which statements are based on personal knowledge and which on information. Vague pleadings that omit essential facts on gratification, undue influence, consent, or material effect on the result are insufficient. Where these statutory requirements are not met, the petition is liable to rejection at the threshold and the court need not proceed to trial on an inherently defective pleading.

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Issues: Whether the election petition disclosed the material facts and full particulars necessary to found a cause of action for corrupt practice, and whether the defective verification and affidavit justified dismissal of the petition at the threshold without trial.

Analysis: An election petition alleging corrupt practice must comply strictly with the statutory scheme. Material facts, meaning the complete bundle of facts constituting the cause of action, must be concisely stated; material particulars are different and may be supplied later, but absence of material facts is fatal. Where corrupt practice is pleaded, the petition must also be supported by a proper affidavit and verification disclosing which allegations are based on personal knowledge and which on information. The charges here were found to be vague and lacking essential facts, including specific facts showing gratification, undue influence, consent, and material effect on the result. The verification and affidavit also failed to satisfy the statutory requirements. In such a case the Court may reject the petition under the applicable procedural provisions, and it is not required to dissect the pleadings or to proceed to trial on an inherently defective petition.

Conclusion: The election petition did not disclose a triable cause of action and was liable to be dismissed at the threshold. The conclusion was against the appellant and in favour of the respondent.

Final Conclusion: The statutory requirements governing election petitions alleging corrupt practice were not met, and the dismissal of the petition without trial was upheld.

Ratio Decidendi: In an election petition alleging corrupt practice, failure to plead material facts and to file a valid verification and prescribed affidavit is fatal; such defects may justify rejection of the petition at the threshold, and the court must consider the petition as a whole rather than dissecting its allegations piecemeal.

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