The Kerala Panchayat Raj Conduct of Election Amendment Rules_2000
THE KERALA PANCHAYAT RAJ (CONDUCT OF ELECTION AMENDMENT RULES, 2000)[Translation in English of the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Election) Amendment Rules, 2000, published under the authority of the Governor.].S. R. O. No. 888/2000.—In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 50, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, €0, 62, 63, 64, 70, 74, 75, 80, 85 and 91 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (13 of 1994) read with section 254 thereof, the Government of Kerala, in consultation with the State Election Commission, hereby make the following rule further to amend the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Election) Rules, 1995 issued in G.O.(P) No. 27/957LAD. dated 17th February, 1995 and published as S.R.O. No. 229/95 in the Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 173 dated, 17th February1995, namely - Rules
1. Short title and commencement –
(1) These rules may be called the Kerala Panchayat Raj {Conduct of Election) Amendment Rules 2000.
(2) They shall come into force at once.
2. Amendment of the rules—In the Kerala Panchavat Raj (Conduct of Election) Rules, 1995,—
(I) In rule 12,—
(i) after sub-rule (1), the following sub-rules, shall be inserted, namely:—
assign such symbol to the candidates belonging to those parties and shall assign one symbol each from the symbols notified under sub-rule[(l) to the candidates belonging to each such party.
(B) In the case where symbol can be assigned to candidates belonging to a political party on preference as per the second proviso to sub-rule (1), the State Election Commission shall; as per as possible, assign the same symbol to candidates throughout the State belonging to that political party.
(1A) In the case where a political party recognised by or registered with_ the Election Commission of India is split into two or more political parties and each of such party raises claim for the same symbol assigned by the Election Commission of India or for which eligible for preference as per the second proviso to sub-rule ,(1), the State Election Commission shall not
(ii)- after sub-rule (3), the following sub-rule shall be inserted namely:—
(4) The State Election Commission may reconsider the action of the Returning Officer in assigning symbol to a candidate and if it is satisfied that the action of the Returning Officer is- wrong, another symbol may be assigned.'1
(2) In rule22, for sub-rule (I), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely:—
"(1) The Postal ballot paper shall be in the form prescribed by die State Election Commission and it shall contain the particulars proposed by the Commission and shall be stamped with the additional words "postal ballot" on its reverse.
(3) In rule 31, after stub-rule (3), the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely:—
"(4) Each elector shall produce either the identity card issued by the Central Election Commission or Revenue Card or Ration Card or Passport or Driving Licence or Pass Book obtained from Bank or Post Office, if demanded by the Presiding Officer or the Polling Officer authorised by him in this behalf."
(4) In rule 37, in the marginal heading and in the rule for the words "District Election Officer" the words "Officer authorised by the State Election Commission" shall be substituted.
(5) In rule 59, in the marginal heading and in sub-rules (I), (2), (3), (6), (7) and (8) of the rule for the word "District Election Officer" the words "the officer authorised by the State Election Commission" shall be substituted.
By order of the Governor, S. M. VIJAYANAND, Secretary to Government
Explanatory Note
(This does not form part of the Notification, but is intended to indicate its general purport.)
Government consider that certain amendments art; necessary- in the provisions relating to assigning of symbols to tin; candidates and in the provisions relating to postal ballot papers, of the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Election) Rules, 1995. Besides, Government consider that it may be appropriate to use identity cards in the Panchayat Elections. Further. amendments are to be made to rules 57 and 59 of the said Rules in the light of the amendments made, to section 8G of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act. by Act No. 13 of 1999. So Government have decided to amend the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Conduct of Election) Rules, 1995 accordingly. This Notification is intended to achieve the above object.