THE KERALA MUNICIPALITY ACT, 1994* - nrcddp

ecording or counting of votes at an election; and the expression 'official duty' shall for thepurposes of this section be construed accordingly, but shall not include duties imposed otherwisethan by or under this Act.158. Requisitioning of premises etc., for election purposes.— (1) If it appears tothe State Election Commission or the District Election Officer that in connection with an election-(a) any premises are needed or are likely to be needed for the purpose of being used as a pollingstation or for the storage of ballot boxes after a poll has been taken, or(b) any vehicle or vessel is needed or is likely to be needed for the purpose of transport of ballotboxes to or from any polling station, or transport of members of the police force for maintaining orderduring the conduct of such election, or transport of any officer or other person for the performanceof any duties in connection with such election,the State Election Commission, or as the case may be , the District Election Officer may by order inwriting requisition such premises or such vehicle or vessel as the case may be, and may make suchfurther orders as may appear to him to be necessary or expedient in connection with the requisitioning:30A. Substituted by Act 8 of 1995.30B. Substituted by Act 8 of 1995.30C. Substituted by Act 8 of 1995.Provided that no vehicle or vessel which is being lawfully used by candidate or his agent forany purposes connected with the election of such candidate shall be requisitioned under this subsectionuntil the completion of the poll at such election.(2) The requisition shall be effected by an order in writing addressed to the persondeemed by the State Election Commission or, as the case may be, the District Election Officerto be the owner or person in possession of the property.(3) Whenever any property is requisitioned under sub-section(l), the period of suchrequisition shall not extend beyond the period for which such property is required for any ofthe purposes mentioned in that sub-section.(4) If any person contravenes any order made under this section, he shall be punishablewith imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine or with both.(5) In this section-(a) "premises" means any land, building or part of a building and includes a hut, shed orother structure or any part thereof;(b) "vehicle" means any vehicle used or capable of being used for the purpose of roadtransport, whether propelled by mechanical power or otherwise;(c) "vessel" means any vessel used or capable of being used for the purpose of watertransport, whether propelled by mechanical power or otherwise.159. Penalty for Government servants or employees of a local authority for actingas election agent, polling agent or counting agent.— Where any person in the service ofthe Government or of a local authority acts as an election agent or a polling agent or a countingagent of a candidate at an election, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which mayextend to three months or with fine or with both.160. Removal of ballot papers from polling station to he an offence.—( I ) Any personwho, atany election, fraudulently takes, or attempts to take, a ballot paper, out of a polling station, or wilfully aidsor abets the doing of any such act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to