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West Bengal Act X of 1952l
THE WEST BENGAL LOCAL BODIES (ELECTORAL
OFFENCES AND MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS) ACT, 1952.
Bcn. Aci XXIV of 1956.
Bcn. Act XXVI of 1984. Ben. Acl M of 1986. I28rh Jvly, 1952.1 At1 Act to provide for cer~aitl petla1 atrd other ~seusrrres for rhe eflcie~rt attd peacejrl cor~drrct of elecriorrs.
. W H E R E ~ S ~ ~ jscxpedient lo providc for certain penal andothermeasures for the eFficien~ and peaceful conduct of clcctions;
It is hereby enac~ed as Follows:-
1. (1) This Acr may be called the Wesl Bengal LocaI Bodies shon tillc (Elecloral Offences and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1952. md
commence-
(2) It shaIl cornc inlo force immediately on the West Bengal Local rncnl. Wesr Ben.
Ord. 11 of Bodies (ElectoraT Oflenccs and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, 1951. 1952, ccasing to operare.
2. In this Act unless there is anyrhing rcpugnant in h e subjec~ or Dchnitions. context,-
=(a) "clcction" means an elec~ion 10 fill a sear of a Councillor of
rhe Calculta Municipal Corporalion under rhc CaIcut ta Wcst Bcn.
Act LTX of
Municipal Corporarion Act, 1980, or an election 10 f i l I n
1980. sea^ of a Councillor of the Howmh Municipal Corporation West Ben. under the Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980, or an Act LVIll of
19BO. election to fill a seat of a Commissioner or n rnunicipaliry Bcn. ACI xv under the Bcngal Municipal Acl, I932 or an eleclion to or 1937. Lll a seal of a Cwncillor or [he Municipal Corporalion of Chandernagore under the Chandcrnagorc Municipal Act, \Vest Bcn ,
ACI X V ~ I I or 1955; and
1955.
'For Stnlcment oTObjecrs and Reasons, scc ihc Culcu~ru Cuteftc, Exfraordir~ny. dared Ihe 2Oih June, 1952, PI. I V A . pagc 1300: lor pmucdinps oflhc WUI Bengnl Legislative
Asscmbly, see Ihc procredings of thc mmtinp or h c Wcsl Bcngal tegisluivz Assembly held on the 1 Irh July, 1952: and for proceedings of ~hc Wtst Bcngd L~gisJ~iv~:CounciI.
set thc proceedings ol the rnecung or rhc \Yes1 Bcngal Lrbslnlive Council k l d on lhc 25th Juty. 1952.
'Clause (a) w a subsrituted lor thc original clause by s. 2 or rhc Wesl Bengd Local Rodics (Elcclod Orfencfs and Misfcllmcow Provisions) (Amendment) Acl, 1984 (Wcsr Ben. Act XXVl or 1984). Prior ro his substituiion, thc words and figures "or an elec~ion lo fiII a seat ol a Councillor of thc Municipal Corponrion or Chandcrnqore undcr rhc Chmdernngorc Municipal Act. 1955" were irwncd by s, 2 or lhc West Bcngd Local Bodies (Elecronl OlCcnces md Misccl l~cous Provisions) (Amcndrncnt) Act. ,1956 ( W ~ I U r n hrr XXrV n T fo
Mainrcnmcc of sccrccy of voling.
Olticers.
CIC., ar c l t c l i ~ n ~ o! l o XI for
candidales
or 10 influcncl:
voting. Prohibition of canvas- sing in or ney polling smllons. Tlre Wesr Betlgal Local Bodies (Electom1 OJetlces aud Miscellaneorrs Provisiorrs) Act, 1952. [ W a t Ben. Act
(b) "clcclor", in rclation to a conslimency, means a pcrson
whose name is, for thc ~ i m c bcing, cntcrcd in he electoral roll
or [ha1 conshmcncy.
3. '(1) No person shall convcnc, hold or atlend any public meeting within any consutuency in which a poll i s rakcn for an election in that conslituency within 48 hours before the close of the poll.
(2) Any pcrson who contravenes the provisions of sub-scction (I)
shall bc punishable with hne which may extend lo rivo hundrcd and filly
rupees.
4. ( 1 ) Every oficer, clerk, agent or orhcr pcrson who performs any
duty in connection with h e recording or counung of volcs ar an elcclion . shall maintain, and aid in maintaining, (hc sccrecy ofthe vodng and shall not (except forsome purposeauthorised by orunder any law) communicate to any pcrson any information calculated to violatc such sccrccy.
(2) Any pcrson who contravenes [he provisions of sub-scction ( 1 )
shaIl be punishable with jmprisonmcnl for a [ e m which may extend lo
three months or wilh line or wirh both.
5. ( I ) No pcrson who is a returning oficer, or a presiding or polling oficcr ar an election, or an officcr or cIcrk appointed by the returning ofliccr or the presiding officer l o pcriorm any duty in connection with an elcction shall in !he conducl or II-IC management of [he eleclion do any act (olhcr rhan the giving of vote) for the fuflhcrance of the prospecrs 01 Ihe
elec~ion of a candidale.
(2) Nosuch pccson asaforesaid, andnomember okapolicc force, shall endcavour-
(a) to persuade any pcrsqn to give his vote a1 an elecuon, or
(b) 10 dissuadc any person from giving his votc at an clccdon, or
(c) ro influence [he v o h g of any person at an cleclion i n any manner.
(3) Any pcrson who con~r&enes the provisions ors@-section (1) or
sub-sechon (2) shall be punishable with irnprisonmcnl which may extend to six months or with fine or wilh boh.
6. ( I ) No person shall, on h e dare or dales, on which a poll is taken
?[for an election] at any pol ling stalion, commit m y of the following acls
within the polling sladon or in any pubIic or private place within adisrancc of onc hundred yards of he polling station, namely,-
(a) canvassing for votes; or
'Sub-sccrion (I) wm substiturcd for ihe origind subsection by s. 2 or h e West Bengal Locd Bodics (E lcc~on l Ofrenics and Misccllmcous Provisio~ls) (Arncndrncn~) Act, 1986 (\Vest Bcn. Act IX or 1956).
'Thcse words withill h c squan: bnclicrs wcrc inscncd by s. 3 orlhc War Bengd Loul Bodics (ElccloraI Ollenccs and Miscellaneous Revisions) (Amendment) Acl. 1956 (West D,- A -, V V I - r -C l n C c 3
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Vie Wesr Bertgol Local Bodies (Nec~oral O$et~ces utrd Miscellarrcorts Provisiorrs) Act, 1952.
(b) solici~ing [he vole or any elcclor; or
(c) pcrsuading any cleclor not to vole lor any particular candida~c: or
(d) pcmuading any clcc~ar no! to VOW at the election; or
(e) exhibiting any norice or sign {athcr ~han an official notice) relaring to the clecrion.
(2) Any person who conhavenes h e provisions of sub-scclion (1) shall be punishablc wilh finc which may exlend LO I W O hundred and lifiy rupees.
(3) An offcnce punishablc under (his s e c ~ i o n shall be cognizable.
7. ( 1 ) No person shail, on rhc date or dales on which a poll i s laken Pcndiy for '[for an clcclion] a1 any polling station,- disorderly
conducr in (a) use or operatc wilhin or at rhc cninncc 01 [he polling sbtion, ,, , or in any public or privatc placc in the neighbourhood pl!ing thereof, 'my appara lus Tor amplifying or reproducing the sIaILons. human voice, such as a megaphone or a loud-spcaker, or
(b) shout, or olhrrwise acL in a disorderly manncr, wirhin or at
he enuance of he polling slation or in any public or privale plocc within a disrance of onc hundred yards of the pelting station,
so as to cause annoyance to any pcrson visi~ing h e polling station for the poll, or so as Lo interfcrc with the work of the officers and olherpcrsons on duty at thc polling slalion.
(2) Any person who contravenes, or wiifully aids or abers h e
contravcnrion or, the provisions of sub-section ( 1 ) shall bc punishable with imprisonment which may cxtend to three months or w i h finc or with b0lh.
(3) If h e presiding officcr of a polling s ~ a ~ o n has reason LO believe rha~ any person i s committing or has commitred an offencc punishable undcr lhis secrion, he may direct any policc officer to arresl such pcrson, and thereupon the police officcr shall mest him.
(4) Any police officer may take such sicps. and use such force, as may bc reasonably neccssary for preven tin& any contravcntion OF rhe provisions or sub-seclion ( I ) , and may scize any apparatus used for such
cantraven tion.
8. ( 1 ) Any person who during [he hours fixed for the poll 'Ifor an pCndly for
etecrion] at any polling slalion misconducts himself or fails to obey the n~aconducl at rhc 'lawful direc~ions of \he prcsiding officer may he removed from h e polling pol!ing stabon by ~ h c presiding olficer or by any police officcr on duly or by any slauon.
person aurhoriscd in lhis behalf by such prcsiding officer. 'These words wilhin rhe squ? bmkcls were inscncd by s. 4 ~ f h e War Bengd L d Bodies (Electonl 0rCcnce.s and Misccllmcour Pmvision~) (Amendmcnrl ACL 1956 OVest . .
Bcn. ~ c t XXlV of 1956). These words within the squm bnckcrs wen: inserted hy s, 5, ibid.
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Tlre WSI Be!zgal Lucul Rorlies (Electom/ Oflet~ces and Miscel1~11t~orr.r provision.^) Acr. 1552. IWest B ~ P . Act
(7) Thc powers conferred by sub-section ( I ) shall nor be cxerciscd so as ro prcvcnt any eleotvr who is otherwise cntitled 10 v o ~ c a1 a polling
slation from having an opportunity of yoling 91 tlial statiort.
(3) If any person who has bccrl KO removcd from a polling s~arion re-
enlcrs the polling slation without the permission of the presiding officer,
hc shall be punishable with in~prisonmenr for a tcmi which may extend ro [hrce rnonths or with fine or with both.
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Tile West Bellgal Local Bodies (EIectoral Oflet~ces olrrl 353
Miscellaneous Provisiot~s) Act, 1952.
11. ( I)Any pcrson whoa1 any elecrionfraudulcnlly rakes, orairempis Removal or ballot papers : to rake, a balloi papcr our of apolling slation, or wilfully aids or abers hc r,,,, piling doing of any such acr, shall be punishable wirh imprisonmen! for a lennstati~ntok
rn olicncc.
which may exlend lo onc ycar or with fine which may extend ro five
h u n d ~ ~ d rupees or wirh bolh.
(2) If the presiding officer of a polling slation has reason to
bclicvc rhal any person is cornmirring or has commirted an ofltncl:
punishable undcr sub-seclion ( I ) , such officer may, bcforc such person leaves [he polling starion, arresl or dirccr n police officer ro arrcst such pcrson and may scarch such person or causc him lo he searched by n
policc officer:
Providcd h a t when ii is necessary 10 cause a woman to bc starched, the search shall be made by anothcr woman with strict rcgard lo dcccncy .
(3) Any ball01 paper found upon the person arrcslcd on scarch shall be madc ovcr Tor safe cusrody Lo il police officer by lhc presiding officer, or when dle search is made by a policc officer, shall be kepr by such officer in safe cuslody.
(4) An offencc punishable under sub-scc~ion ( I ) shall be cognizable.
12. (1) A pcrson shall bc g u i l ~ y of an electoral oficrcflcc if at any omcr
clccrion he- oKcncrls and penalties
[a) iraudulently dclaccs or fraudulen~ly dcslroys any nomination ~hcrcror. paper; or
(b) fnudulenrly dcfaccs, destroys or removcs any list, nolice or
otherdmumcnt a1fixcd by orunder heaurhoriry ofareturning orficer; or
(c) fraudulently defaces orfraudulcntly destroys any ballot pnpcr
or the official mark on any ballol pnpcr or any declarauon of j d c n ~ i ~ y ar official cnvelopc used in conncclion with voting;
or
(d) w i ~ h o u ~ d u c authority supplics any ballor paper to any pcrson; or
(e) fraudulently puts into any ballor box anything olhcr thin the
balIot papcr which he is aulhoriscd by law to put in; or If) without due aulhorily dcswoys, takes, opens or orhenvise interrurcs with any ballot box or ball01 papers [hen i n usc For the purposes of the election; or
(g) fraudulcnlly or withour duc authority, as the casu may be,
alrempts to do any of ~hc iotcgoing ac!s or rvilhlly nids or ahers [hc doing of an!, such acts.
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The West Bengal hcol Bodies (Electoral Oflerlces atrd Miscellatreorrs Provisio~rs) Act. 1952. [West Ben. Act
': (2) Any person guilty of an electoral orfcncc under [his section
shall-
(a) i T hc is a re~urning officer or a presiding officer at a polling
station orany other officer or clcrkcmpIoycd on official duty
i n connection wirh [he clcction, be punishable with imprisonmcnl for a tcm which may extend to two ycws or
w i ~ h Iinc or wilh bolh;
(b) if he is Any othcr pcrson, be punishable with imprisonment for n tcnn which may extend LO six months or ivj th fine or with both.
(3) For he purposes of [his scction, a person shall be deemed to bc on
official duly if his duly i s to takc part in [he conducr oran clcction or pan
ofan election including the counting of voles or ID Bc responsible afier an
elcc~ion lor the used ball01 papers and othcr documcms in conneclion wirh
such elccBon, bul the expression "official duly" shall not include any duly imposed otherwise than by or underthe 'Ithe Bengal Municipal Act, 1932, '[Ben. Act XV of 1932. or the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. or the Howrah Ben,
Municipal Corporation Aci, 1980.1 AC~ LIX of
1980.
(4) An oflencc punishable underclausc (b) of sub-sccrion (2) shall bewesl Ben. Act LVIII of
. cognizable. 19801. Pmsccution 13. (1) If the Compctcnl Authority specilicd in sub-secdon (2) has regwjing
ccnun reason to bclicvt: hat any offencepunishablc undcr section 5 or section I0
O~(C"CCS. or undcr cIausz (a) of sub-seclion (2) of section 12 has been committed il shall be Ihe duty of the Compctcnt Authority to cause such enquiries to be
made and such proseculions lo be insututed as the circurnslanccs of h e
casc may appcar to him to require.
(2) The Competcnr Aulhority for the purpose of sub-section ( I ) shall
bc-
(a) in reference lo an clechn ?* " * * * under [he
Bengal Municipal Act, 1932 "or undcr h e Chandernagore w,,, 8,".
Municipal Act, 19551, the District Magistrate; and Act XVl of
1955.
'Thc words md figurrs within thc squarc bmke ls wirh the rlurgind rcrercnces were subsli~u~cd for ihc wordsand figures "IheBcngal Locd Scll-Covernmcn~ Act of 1885 or be Cdcu~taMunicipd Ad, 1923.0; rhe Bcngal Municipal Acl, 1932, or Ihc C;llcu~iaMunicipd Act. 195 1." wilh ~ n q i n d rclerrnces "Ben. Act 111 or 1885. Ben. Act 111 01 1923. Bcn. Act XV of 1932. Wcsi Bcn. Acr XXXIII of 1951 ." by s. 5 of rhc Wesl Brngf h a 1 Bodics (Electonl Orrxcls and Misccllancous Provisions) (Aincnd!i~cnt) Act, 1984 (Wesf Ben. Acl XXVl of 19B4).
-7hc words and figures "under theBengal Local Self-Covemmenl AcloT IS85 of' were omitled by s. 6(1). ibid.
These workand figurcswcreinscned by 5 .60f thc War BcngalLocdBodics (Elcclod Offcoccs md Miscellaneous Provisions) (Arncndmcnt) Acr. 1956 (Wcsr Bcn. Acr XXIV of
1956).
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The West Betrtal Local Bodies (Elecroral Offe~lces arzd Miscellaneo~rs Provisions) Act, 1952.
(Sections 14-16.)
West Bw,
Act LTX or
1980.
Wesi Ben. Act L V l l l of
1980.
(b) in reference to an eleclion '[the Calcutta Municipal Corporation Acl, 1980 orthe Howrah Municipal Corporation
Act, 1980],-
(i) theSrare Govcrnment,inrespect ofan offencecornmi ticd by a Rcgistcring Aulhority Z[or election authori~y J ,
(ii) h e Regislering Aulhority 3 [ ~ r election aurhori~y]. in
respcd o f an oCfcncecommirtcd by any person appoinlcd
by him io perform any duty in connection with the prcparalion or revision or an electoral roll, and
(iii) the EIection Officer 4 [ ~ r election auihority] authoriscd
to appoin~ returning officers, presiding officers and polling officers, in respccr of an offence commiucd by a person other than apcrson referred to insub-clauses (i)
and (ii).
(3) Na coun shall lake cognizance of any offence punishabIe under
seclion 5 or scction 10 or under clausc (a) of sub-section (2) of section 12
unlcss thcre is a complain1 madc by order of, or under aulhority from, the
Competent Aulhori~y a rercrrud lo in sub-sections (I) and (2).
14. A pcrson convicted of an offence punishable under section 1 I or Disqualifica-
clause (b) of sub-seaion (2) of reclion 12 shall, for a period of six years f:{!FIL hc from the dare of rhe conviction. bc disqualified for voting or for standing ~Icction.
as a candidale at any election.
Ben, Acl XV 15. In scction 35 of h e Bengal Municipal Act, 1932. afier the words, Amendment
of 1932. of scc~ion 35 hnckcu and figures "seclions 28 to 33 (bolh inclusive)", rhe words, oIBengd bnckcts and figures "of this Act or or an offence punishable under sccdon Act XV or
1932.
4 or seclion 9 of the West Bengal Local Bodics (Elec~oml Oircnces and Miscellaneous Provisions) Aci, 1952", shall be inscrtcd.
16. The provisions ofsecBons 28 lo 34 (boh inclusive) of the Bengal A pliwtion P . Municipal Act, 1932, shall not apply ro cases to which h e provisions of O Ihc h i s Act may be applicable.
'The words and figuru wirhin h c s q u m brackets wcre substirured Tor thc words and iigurcs "undcr thc Calcuna Municipal Act. 1923 or thc CalcutraMunicipd Act. 1951" by s. 6(?)(a) of thc \Vesl Bcngd L o d Bodics (Elccmnl OKcnccsmd Miscrllmcous Pmvisions (Amendment) Act. 1984 (Wal Bcn. Acr XXVl of 1984).
:The words within thc squm bnckctr; wcre inserted by s. 6(2)(b), ;bill. 'The words wirhin the squm bnckers wcrc inscncd by s. 6(2)(c), ibid- 'Thc words within the square bnckcE wcrc inscncd by s. 6(l)(d), ibid.
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The Wesr Be~~gal Local Bodies (Elecroral Offences and Mixcellaneorrs Provisio~u) Act, 1952. [Wcst Ben. Act X of 1952.1
: I , . . .
Savings. 17. Any powcr exercised, any acliod taken or anything whatsoever , . . -
donc or nny penalry incurrcd or any punishmcntawarded or any proceeding commcnccd under h e Wcsl Bengal Local Bodies (Elecioral 0 ffcnccs and :'::-
Misccllancous Provisions) 0rdinance,'1952, shall, on the said Ordinance ,952. ceasing to operare, bc deemed ro havc been cxercised, takcn, done, incurrcd. awarded or commenced undcr thc corresponding provision of
lhis Act as if this Act had comn~enced on the 24th day of March, 1952.
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