Section 3. Insertion of new section 74A, 74B and 740 in Guj. X of 1962
3. Insertion of new section 74A, 74B and 740 in Guj. X of 1962.- In the principal Act, after section 74, the following sections shall be inserted, namely:-
"74A. Disqualification for being designated officer ??? of certain ??? or for being designated officer of the same society for more than six years.- (1) Ia this section "a designated officer" means the Chairman and the Prosideat, and includes any other offices of the society as may be declared by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to be a designated officer, but does not include any officer appointed nominated by the State Government or by the Registrar.
(2) No person shall, at the same time, be or continue to be, a designated officer of more than one society falling in Category I or Category II or Category III of the categories mentioned below; and shall not be or continue to be a designated officer in more than two societies in the aggregate in the three categories:-
Category I.-Societies, the area of operation of which, extends to the whole of the State.
Category II.-(a) Societies, the area of operation of which does not extend to the whole of the State but extends to the City of Ahmedabad and the authorised share capital of which in more than Rs. 10 lakhs;
(b) Societies the area of operation of which does not extend to the whole of the State but extends to one or more districts;
(c) Societies the area of operation of which extends to Joss than a district, and the authorised share capital of which is more than Rs. 10 lakhs.
Category III.- Societies the area of operation of which does not extend to the whole of a district but extends to one or more talukas and the authorised share capital of which is not more than Rs. 10 lakhs but is not less than Rs. 5 lakhs.
(3) If any person is at the commencement of the Gujarat Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1981 (Guj. 6 of 1981), a designated officer of more than two societies in the said categories, or of more than one society in the same category, then unless he resigns his office in the society or societies in excess of the number prescribed under sub-section (2) within a period of ninety days from such commencement he shall, at the expiration of the said period, cease to be a designated officer of all such societies.
(4) If any person becomes, at the same time, after the commencement of the said Act, a designated officer of societies in excess of the number prescribed under sub-section (2), unless he resigns his office in the society or societies in excess of the said number within a period of ninety days from the date on which he in elected or appointed a designated officer of more than the permissible number of society or societies, or if the elections or appointments are held or made simultaneously, Atom the date on which the result of last of such elections or appointments is declared, he shall, at the expiration of the said period of ninety days, cease to be a designated officer of all such societies.
(5) No person shall be, or shall continue he be, a designated officer of any society of any of the categories referred to in sub-section (2) for a consecutive period of more than, tea years, and at the expiration of that period any such person shall cease to be a designated officer of that society, and shall not be eligible for being re-elected or re-appointed as a designated officer, until a period of five years has elapsed after the expiry of the aforesaid period of ten years.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section,-
(a) in calculating the consecutive period of ten years in office, any period for which the person concerned may have been such officer, before the commencement of the Gujarat Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1981 (Guj. 6 of 1981), shall be included,
(b) if any person resigns his office as a designated officer at any time within twelve months of the date on which the consecutive period of ten years would, but for his resignation, have been completed, he shall be deemed to have completed the period of ten years on his resignation.
74B. Reservation of ??? on committees of certain societies, for Scheduled Castes and Tribes and small and marginal farmer.- (1) On the committee of such society or class of societies as the State Government may, by general or special order direct, two seats shall be reserved, one for the persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and one for the persons who are small farmers and marginal farmers.
(2) Where any of such reserved seats is not filled by election or appointment the committee stall fill such seat by co-option of a member on the committee from amongst persons eligible to fill the reserved seat.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this section,-
(1) President's Act 35 of 1976.- the expressions "marginal farmer" and "small farmer" shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (g) and (p) of section 2 of the Gujarat Rural Debtors' Relief Act, 1976;
(2) the expression "Scheduled Castes" means such castes, races or tribes or parts of, or groups within, such castes, races or tribes as are deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to the State of Gujarat under article 341 of the Constitution of India;
(3) the expression "Scheduled Tribes" means such tribes or tribal communities or parts of, or groups within, such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Gujarat, under article 342 of the Constitution of India.
74C. Provision far conduct of elections committees and officers of certain societies and term of office of member of such committed.- (1) The election of the members of the committees and of the officers by the committees, of the societies of the categories mentioned below shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter XI-A and shall be conducted in the manner laid down by or under that Chapter:-
(i) Such Apex societies, as the State Government may, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, from time to time, specify in this behalf, regard being had to the financial position and share capital of such institutions;
(ii) all District Central Co-operative Banks;
(iii) all Primary Land Development Banks;
(iv)(a) all District Co-operative Sale and Purchase Organisation;
(b) all Taluka Co-operative Sale and Purchase Organisations;
(v) all Co-operative Sugar Factories;
(vi) all Co-operative Spurning Mills;
(vii) any other society or class of societies, which the State Government may, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, from time to time specify in this behalf, regard being had to the financial position and share, capital of such institutions.
(2) When the election of all the members of the committee of any such society is held at the same time, the members elected on the committee at such general election shall hold office for a period of five years from the date on which the first meeting is held and shall continue in office until immediately before the first meeting of the members of the new committee.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the bye-laws of any such society, the committee of management shall be elected by a general body of members of the society and all other committees authorised by or under the bye-laws may be constituted by electing or appointing persons from among the persons who are members of the committee of management, and all such committees shall be sub-committees of the committee of management, and shall be subordinate to it:
Provided that it shall be lawful for the State Government,-
(a) to nominate its representatives on a Committee of any such society under section 80, or
(b) to nominate the first Committee of Management of any such society where the bye-laws of such society so provides."
Section 4. Insertion of Chapter XI-A in Guj. X of 1962
4. Insertion of Chapter XI-A in Guj. X of 1962.- In the principal Act, after section 145, the following new Chapter shall be inserted, namely:-
"CHAPTER XI-A.
EJECTIONS OF COMMITTEES AND OFFICERS OF CERTAIN SOCIETIES.
145A. Application.- All sections of this Chapter except section 145-Y shall apply to elections to committees of societies belonging to the categories specified in section 74-C.
145B. Definitions.- In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Collector" means the Collector having jurisdiction over area in which the registered office of the society concerned is situated and includes the Additional Collector, and also any officer net below the rank of Deputy Collector appointed by the State Government the power and perform the duties of the Collector under this Chapter.
(b) "election" means election of a member or members of the committee of a specified society.
(c) "specified society" means, a society belonging to any of the categories specked in section 74C.
145C. Time when elections to be held.- Every election shall be held as for as possible one month before the all members is due to expire.
145D. Conduct of elections.- (1) Save as otherwise provided, every election shall be held on such date or dates, as the Collector may fix, and shall be conducted under his control by such Returning Officer and other Officers as may be appointed by the Collector in this behalf.
(2) In all cases, where a society has to and a nominee as a member of the committee of the Specified Society the election of such nominee shall be ??? under the control of the Collector of the District in which the registered of the society sending the nominee is situated.
(3) The voting at every election shall be by secret ballot.
(4) No election shall be held in the case where under the by-laws of a specified society the Government nominee or the nominees of a Financing Agency becomes a member of the committee of the society.
145E. Cost of conducting election.- (1) The expenses of the folding of any election, including the payment of travelling allowances, daily allowances, and other remuneration, if any, to the persons appointed to exercise the powers perform the duties in respect of the election, shall be borne by the specified society concerned.
(2)(a) The Collector may, by written requisition, call upon a specified society to deposit with him such amount as he considers necessary to meet with the expenditure likely to be incurred for the conduct of the election.
(b) Within eight days from the receipt of such requisition from the Collector, the society shall deposit the specified amount with Collector.
(3)(a) The, Collector shall, maintain an account of expenses incurred in connection with the election.
(b) Within six months from the declaration of results of the election, the Collector shall render the accounts to the society concerned and-
(i) Where the expenditure is less than the amount of deposit he shall refund to the society the balance of the amount remaining with him; and
(ii) where the expenditure exceeds the amount of deposits to shall by written requisition call upon the society to pay the amount of excess expenditure specified by him in such requisition, within eight days from the receipt of such requisition and the society shall comply with such requisition.
(4) Where a specified society fails to deposit the amount or to pay the amount of excess expenditure, the Collector may recover from the society such sum together with interest thereon at the rate of 12 per cent per annum, as arrears of land revenue.
145F. Disqualification for membership.- (1) A person shall be disqualified for being elected, as, and for being a member of the committee of any specified society-
(a) if he is a salaried employee of any society (other than a society of employees themselves) or holds any office of profit under any society, except when he holds on is appointed to the office of a Managing Director or any other Office under the society declared by the State Government by general or special order not to disqualify its holder;
(b) if he has boon convicted of an offence punishable under section 153-A or section 171F or section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (3) of motion 505 of the Indian Penal Code, or under section 145R or clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 145S of this Act, unless a period of six years has elapsed since the date of his conviction (XLV of 1860);
(c) if he has been convicted by a Court in India for any offence and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years, unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release;
(d) if he is found guilty of a corrupt practice under this Chapter by the State Government, unless a period of six years has elapsed since the date on which the decision of the State Government takes effect;
(e) if he is also disqualified by or under any other provision of this Act.
(2) Any salaried employee of a society who was a member of the committee of a specified society immediately before the commencement of the Gujarat Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 1981 (Guj. 6 of 1981), shall not be disqualified, and be deemed never to have been disqualified, under clause (a) of sub-section (1), if he was at that time holding any office saved from disqualification under the said clause (a) and shall continue to be such member for such period or subject to such term and conditions for which or on which he would have otherwise continued as such member; and anything done or any action taken by which person shall be deemed to be duly done or taken and the committee shall be deemed to be properly constituted, and such thing done or action taken shall not be called in question in any court or authority on the ground only that the committee was not properly constituted or that the person was disqualified to continue as a member.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (b) or (c) of sub-section (1), a disqualification under either clause shall not, in the case of a person with on the date of the conviction is a member of any specified society, take effect until three months have elapsed from that date or, if within that period an appeal or application for revision is brought in respect of the conviction or the sentence until that appeal or application is ??? of by the Court.
145-G. Account of election ??? maximum thereof and lodging of account.- (1) Every candidate at an election shall keep a separate and-correct account of all expenditure in connection with the election incurred or authorised by him.
(2) The account shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed.
(3) The total of the said expenditure, shall not exceed such amount as may be specified by the State Government, by general or special order, published in the Official Gazette.
(4) Every contesting candidate at an election shall within thirty days from the date of election of the returned candidate or, if there are more than one returned candidate at the election and the dates of their election are different, the later of those two dates, lodge with the Collector an account of his election expenses which shall be true copy of the account kept by him under sub-section (1).
145-H. Disqualification for failure to lodge account of election expenses.- If the Collector is satisfied that a person,-
(a) has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by the last preceding section, and
(b) has no good reason or justification for the failure,
the Collector shall, by order published in the Official Gazette, declare him to be disqualified for being elected as, and for being a member of committee of any specified society and any such person shall be disqualified for a period of three years from the date of the order.
145-I. Removal or reduction of period of disqualification.- The State Government may, for reasons to be recorded, remove any disqualification under this Chapter or reduce the period of any such disqualification.
145-J. Corrupt practices.- The following shall be deemed to be corrupt practices for the purposes of this Chapter:-
(1) "Bribery" that is to say-
(A) any gift, offer or promise by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent of any gratification, to any person whomsoever, witty the object, directly or indirectly of inducing-
(a) a person to stand or not to stand to or to withdraw or toot to withdraw from being a candidate at an election or
(b) an elector to vote or refrain from voting at an election, or as a reward to-
(i) a person for having so stood or not stood, or for having withdrawn or not having withdrawn his candidature; or
(ii) an elector for having voted or refrained from voting;
(B) the receipt of, or agreement to receive, any gratification, whether as a motive or a reward-
(a) by a poison for standing or not standing as, or for withdrawing or not withdrawing from being a candidate; or
(b) by any person whomsoever for himself or any other person for voting or refraining from voting, of inducing or attempting to induce any elector to vote or refrain from Voting, or any candidate to withdraw or not to withdraw his candidature.
Explanation.-For the purposes of this, clause, the term is not to a tricked to pecuniary gratifications or gratifications estimable in money and it includes all forms of ??? ??? for he of employment for reward, but it does not include the payment of any expenses bona fide incurred at, or for the purpose of, any election and duly entered in the account of election expanses referred to in section 145G.
(2) Undue influence, that is to say, any direct or indirect inter fence or attempt to interfere on the part of the candidate or his ???, or of any other person with the consent to the candidate or his election agent the free exercise of any loot oral right:
Provided that-
(a) without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of this clause, any such person as is referred to therein who-
(i) threatens any candidate or any elector or any person in whom a candidate or an elector is interested, with injury of any kind ??? social ostracism and ex-communication of expulsion from any case or community, or
(ii) induces or attempts to induce a candidate in an elector to believe that he, or any person in whom he is interested, will become, or will be rendered an object of divine displeasure or spiritual censure, shall but deemed to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral right of such candidate or elector within the meaning of this clause;
(b) a declaration of public policy or a promise of public action, or the more exercise of a legal right without intent to interfere with an electoral right, shall not be deemed to be ??? fitter the ??? of that clause.
(3) The hiring or procuring whether on payment or otherwise, of any vehicle or vessel by a candidate or his, agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or ins election agent, or the use of such vehicle or vessel for the free conveyance of any elector (other than that candidate himself the members of his family or his agent) to or from any polling station:
Provided that the hiring of a vehicle or vessel by an elector or by several electors at their joint costs for the purpose of conveying him or them to and from any polling station shall not be deemed to be a corrupt practice under this clause:
Provided further that the use of any public transport vehicle or vessel or railway carriage by any elector at his own cost for the purpose of going to coming from any polling station shall not be deemed to be a corrupt practice.
Explanation.-In this clause and in the next succeeding clause, the expression "Vehicle" means any vehicle used or capable of being used for the purpose of road transport, whether propelled by mechanical power or otherwise and whether used for drawing other vehicles or otherwise.
(4) The use of vehicles belonging to a specified society for the purpose of any election.
(5) The incurring or authorizing of expenditure in contravention of section 145-G.
(6) Making special advances of loans or otherwise favouring any elector or group of electors between the date of declaration of programme for an elation and the date of declaration of the result thereof.
145-K. Maintenance of secrecy of voting.- (1) Every officer, clerk, agent or other person who performs any duty in connection with the recording or counting of votes at an election stall maintain, and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the voting and shall not (except for some purpose authorised by or under any law) communicate to any person any information calculated to violate such secrecy.
(2) Any person who Contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, of with fine, or with both.
145-L. Officers etc., at election not to act for candidates or to influence voting.- (1) No person who is a Returning Officer or an Assistant Returning Officer or a Presiding or Polling Officer at an election or an officer or clerk, appointed by the Returning Officer or the Presiding Officer to perform any duty in connection with an election shall in the conduct or the management, the ejection do any act (other than the giving of vote) for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of a candidate.
(2) No such person as aforesaid and no member of a Police Force, shall endeavour-
(a) to persuade any person to give his vote at an election, or
(b) to dissuade any person from giving his vote at an election, or
(c) to influence the voting of any person at an election in any manner.
(3) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
(4) An offence punishable under sub-section (3) shall be cognizable.
145-M. Prohibition of canvassing in or near polling station.- (1) No person shall, on the date or dates on which a poll is taken at any polling station, commit by of the following act a within the polling station or in any public or private place within a distance of one hundred metros of the polling station, namely:-
(a) canvassing for votes; or
(b) soliciting the vote of any elector; or
(c) persuading any elector not to vote for any particular candidate; or
(d) persuading any elector not to vote at the election; or
(e) exhibiting any notice or sign (other than an official notice) relating to the election.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees.
(3) An offence punishable under sub-section (2) shall be cognizable.
145-N. Penalty for disorderly conduct in or near polling station.- (1) No person shall on the date or dates on which a poll is taken at any polling station,-
(a) use or operate within or at the entrance of the polling station, or in any public or private place in the neighbourhood thereof, any apparatus for amplifying or reproducing the human voice, such as a megaphone or a loud-speaker, or,
(b) shout, or otherwise act in a disorderly manner, within or at the entrance of the polling station or in any public or private place in the neighbourhood thereof
so as to cause annoyance to any person visiting the polling station for the poll, or so as to interfere with the work of the officer and other persons on duty at the polling station.
(2) Any person who contravenes, or wilfully aids or abets the contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine, or with both.
(3) If the Presiding Officer of a polling station has reason to believe that any person is committing or has committed an offence punishable under this section, he may direct any police officer to arrest such person, and thereupon the police officer shall arrest him.
(4) Any police officer may take such steps and use such force, as may he reasonably necessary for preventing any contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1) and may seize any apparatus used for such contravention.
145-O. Penalty for misconduct at the polling station.- (1) Any person who during the hours fixed for the poll at any polling station misconducts himself or foils to obey the lawful direction of the Presiding Officer may be removed from the polling station by the Presiding Officer or by any police officer on duty or by any person authorised in this behalf by such Presiding Officer.
(2) The powers conferred by sub-section (1) shall not be exercised so as to prevent any elector who is otherwise entitled to vote at a polling station from having an opportunity of voting at that station.
(3) If any person who has been so removed from a polling station re-enters the polling station without the permission of the Presiding Officer he shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine or with both.
(4) An offence punishable under sub-section (3) shall be cognizable.
145P. Penalty for illegal hiring or procuring of conveyances at elections.- If any person is guilty of any such corrupt practice as is specified in clause (3) or (4) of section 145-J at or in connection with an election, he shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
145-Q. Breaches of a official duty in connection with election.- (1) If any, person to whom this section applies is without reasonable cause guilty of any act or omission in breach of his official duty, he shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
(2) An offence punishable under sub-section (1) shall be cognizable.
(3) No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against any such person for damages in respect of any such act or omission as aforesaid.
(4) The persons to whom this section applies are the Returning Officers, Assistant Returning. Officers, Presiding Officers, Polling Officers and any other persons appointed to perform any duty in connection with the receipt of nominations or withdrawal of candidatures, or the recording or counting of votes at an election; and the expression "official duty" shall for the purposes of this section be construed accordingly; but shall not include duties imposed otherwise than by or under this Act.
145R. Removal of a ballot papers from polling station to be offence.- (1) Any person who at any election fraudulently takes, or attempts to take, a ballot paper out of a polling station, or wilfully aids or abets the doing of any such act, shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with, fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
(2) If the Presiding officer of a polling station has reason to believe that any person is committing or has committed an offence punishable under sub-section (1), such officer may, before such person leaves the polling station, arrest or direct a police officer to arrest such person and may search such person or cause him, to be searched by a police officer:
Provided that, when it is necessary to cause a woman to be searched, the search shall be made by another woman with strict regard to decency.
(3) Any ballot paper found upon the person arrested on search shall be made over for safe custody to a police officer by the Presiding Officer, or when the search is made by a police officer, shall be kept by such officer in safe custody.
(4) An offence punishable under sub-section (1) shall be cognizable.
145S. Other offences and penalties therefor.- (1) A person shall be guilty of an electoral offence, if, it any election he-
(a) fraudulently defaces or fraudulently destroys any nomination paper; or
(b) fraudulently defaces, destroys or removes any list, notice or other document affixed by or under the authority of a Returning Officer; or
(c) fraudulently defaces or fraudulently destroys any ballot paper or the official mark on any ballot paper or any declaration of identity or official envelope used in connection with voting by postal ballot; or
(d) without due authority supplies any ballot paper to any person receives any ballot paper from any person or in possession of any ballot paper; or
(e) fraudulently puts into any ballot box anything other than the ballot paper which he is authorised by law to put in; or
(f) without due authority destroys, takes, opens or otherwise interferes with any ballot box or ballot papers then in use for the purposes of the election; or
(g) fraudulently or without due authority, as the case may be, attempts to do any of the foregoing acts or wilfully aids or abets the doing of any such acts.
(2) Any person guilty of an electoral offence under this section; shall-
(a) If he is a Returning Officer or an Assistant. Returning Officer or a Presiding Officer at a polling station or any other officer or clerk employed on official duty in connection with the election, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both:
(b) if he is any other person, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine or with both.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a potato shall be deemed to be on official duty if his duty is to take part in the conduct of an election or part of an election including the counting of votes or to be responsible after an election for the used ballot papers and other documents in connection, with such election, but the expression "official duty" shall not include any duty imposed otherwise than by or under this Act.
(4) An offence punishable under sub-section (2) shall be cognizable.
145T. Application of section 149 to offences under this Chanter subject to certain modification.- The provisions of section 149 shall apply to the offences under this Chapter, subject to the modifications that it shall be lawful for a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class to pass a sentence or fine on any person convicted of any offence under this Chapter in excess of his powers under section 29 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) and that no prosecution for an offence punishable under this Chapter shall be lodged, except with the previous sanction of the Collector.
145U. Disputes relating to electing to be submitted to the State Government.- (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 State Government.
(2) Such reference may be made by an aggrieved party by presenting an election petition to the State Government:
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 State Government unless it is made within two months from the date of such declaration:
Provided further that, the State Government may admit any petition after the expiry of that period, if the petitioner satisfies the Government 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 thin Chapter, the State Government shall have the game powers as are vested in a Court in respect of-
(a) proof of facts by affidavit;
(b) summoning and enforcing the attendance of by person and examining him on oath;
(c) compelling discovery or the production of documents, and
(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses.
In the case of any such affidavit, an officer appointed by the State Government in this behalf may administer the oath to the deponent,
(4) Subject to any rules made by the State Government in this behalf, any such petition shall be heard and disposed of by the State Government as expeditiously as possible. An order made by the Government on such petition shall be final and conclusive and shall not be called in question in any Court.
146V. Deposit wards cost for ??? and power to ward cost.- A petitioner presenting an election petition under section 145U shall pay a deposit not exceeding Rs. 600 as the State Government may direct towards, the costs for hearing the petition. Unless to petitioner deposits the same as aforesaid, the petition shall be summarily dismissed. Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, at the time of deciding the petition, the government shall assess the costs of the hearing of the petition and shall require the petitioner or the respondents, or both as the case may be, to defray the whole or in such proportion as it thinks fit, the costs of the petition including the deposit so made. Such sum as the Government may assess as the coat to Government of hearing the petition (but not exceeding Rs. 500 in any case) shall be credited to the Government.
145W. Contents of petition.- (1) An election petition shall-
(a) contain a concise statement of the material foots on which the petitioner relies;
(b) set forth full particulars of any corrupt practice that the petitioner alleges, including as full a statement as possible of the names of the parties alleged to have committed such corrupt practice and the date and place of the commission of each such practice; and
(c) be signed by the petitioner and verified in the manner and down in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for the verification of pleadings:
Provided that, where the petitioner alleges any corrupt practice, the petition shall also be accompanied by an affidavit in a support of the allegation of such corrupt practice and the particulars thereof.
(2) Any schedule or annexure to the petition shall also be signed by the petitioner and verified in the same manner as the petition.
145X. Relief that may be claimed by the petitioner.- A petitioner may, in addition to claiming a declaration that the election of all or any of the returned candidates is void, claim a further declaration that he himself or any other candidate has been duly elected.
145Y. Powers to make rules for purposes of this Chapter.- Without prejudice to any other power to make rules contained elsewhere in this Act, the State Government may make rules consistent with this Act generally to provide for and to regulate all or any of the other matters relating to the various stages of the elections (including preparation of list of voters).
145Z. Special provision for election of offence of specified societies.- (1) This section shall apply only to election of officers by members of committees of societies belonging to the categories specified in section 74C.
(2) After the election of the members of the committee, or whenever such election is due, the election of the officer or officers of any such society shall be held as provided in its by-laws, but any meeting of the committee for this purpose shall be presided over by the Collector or an officer nominated by him in this behalf.".