Section 10 of The Madhya Pradesh Krishak Sangathan (Nirvachan) Niyam, 1999 — Appointment of Presiding Officer and Polling Officers
Bare section text
Official Legislative Text
(1) The District Election Authority or any other officer authorized by him shall appoint a Presiding Officer for each polling station and such other polling officers as he deems necessary, but he shall not appoint any person who has been appointed by or on behalf of a candidate in relation to the election or who is otherwise working for the candidate: Provided that if any polling officer remains absent, the Presiding Officer may appoint any person present at the polling station, other than a person employed by or on behalf of the candidate or working otherwise in relation to the election, as a polling officer and shall inform the Returning Officer accordingly. Provided further that any polling personnel appointed to conduct polling for members and President of the Management Committee of the Water Users Association or any other officer duly authorized by him under this rule can also conduct polling for any other election post which is to be conducted simultaneously.(2) Every polling officer shall, if so directed by the Presiding Officer, perform all or any of the duties of the Presiding Officer under these rules.(3) If any Presiding Officer is absent from the polling station due to illness or unavoidable reasons, his duties shall be performed by such polling officer as has been authorized by the Returning Officer to perform the duties during such absence.(4) It shall be the general duty of the Presiding Officer to maintain public order at the polling station and ensure that the polling is conducted fairly.
Educational Study Layer
Summary
- The District Election Officer appoints one Presiding Officer and several Polling Officers for each station.
- No person who is working for or employed by a candidate can be appointed as an election officer.
- If a Polling Officer is absent, the Presiding Officer can appoint a replacement from people present, as long as they are not linked to a candidate.
- The Presiding Officer is responsible for keeping order at the station and ensuring the vote is fair.
- Polling Officers can perform the duties of the Presiding Officer if they are directed to do so.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Who appoints the Presiding and Polling Officers for a station?
The District Election Officer, or another officer they authorize, makes these appointments under Section 10.
2. Can a candidate's employee serve as a Polling Officer?
No, Section 10 prohibits appointing anyone who has been employed by or is working for a candidate in the election.
3. What happens if the Presiding Officer is too ill to work on election day?
Under Section 10, their duties are performed by a Polling Officer who has been previously authorized by the Returning Officer for such a situation.
4. What is the main job of a Presiding Officer at the polling station?
Their general duty is to maintain public order and ensure that polling is conducted fairly.
Practice Quiz
Q1.Under Section 10 of the Act, which of the following is a disqualification for becoming a Polling Officer?
Q2.If a Polling Officer is absent, who has the immediate power to appoint a replacement from the people present?
Q3.According to Section 10(4), what is the specific "general duty" of the Presiding Officer at a polling station?
Q4.If the Presiding Officer is absent due to an unavoidable reason, who performs their functions?