State Act

The Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965.

17. Power to make rules regulating elections.— (1) The State Government 4[in consultation with the State Election Commissioner], may make rules generally to provide for or to regulate, matters in respect of elections to be held under this Act. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, the State Government 1[in consultation with the State Election Commissioner], may make rules with regard to all or any of the following matters, namely :— (a) 2[the preparation, publication and maintenance of list of voters;] 3[* * * * * * *] (b) the fixation of dates, time and places for various stages of election; (c) the appointment and duties of returning officers, presiding officers and other staff appointed for elections; (d) the nomination of candidates, form of nomination paper, objection to nominations, scrutiny of nominations and appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers; (e) the deposits to be made by candidates and circumstances under which such deposits may be refunded to candidates or forfeited to the Council; (f) the assignment of symbols to candidates; (g) the withdrawal of candidature; (h) the appointment of agents of candidates; (i) the form of ballot paper; (j) the procedure in contested and uncontested elections; (k) the steps to be taken to prevent personation of voters; (l) the manner of recording votes; (m) the procedure to be followed in respect of challenged votes and tendered votes; (n) the scrutiny of votes, counting or recounting of votes, declaration of results and procedure in case of equality of votes or in the event of a Councillor being elected to represent more than one ward; (o) the custody and disposal of papers relating to elections; (p) the circumstances in which poll may be suspended or held afresh; (q) any other matter relating to elections which is to be or may be prescribed under this Act. 4[* * * * * *]