Bijepur poll petition closed by HC

The Orissa High Court today decided to close the election petition on the Bijepur Assembly constituency on account of the death of its only respondent.
Justice Debapriya Dash, who had reserved his verdict after the completion of hearing on the petition on Friday, pronounced his judgment today.
Although the pending petition was in no way harming the upcoming bypoll in the constituency, today's verdict removed all the doubts.
The election petition was filed by senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya, who had challenged the April, 2014 election of Congress leader Subal Sahu from the constituency.

Sahu, however, died after a prolonged illness in August this year.
Sahu's counsel Tarini Kanta Biswal said after his client's death, his family members had appealed to the high court to close the election petition.
Since the petitioner had only prayed for setting aside the election of Sahu and an order directing fresh polls to fill up the casual vacancy, the high court did not feel that it was necessary to hold a trial as a casual vacancy had already occurred in the constituency following the death of Sahu.