LexThe west bengal local bodies (electoral offences and miscellaneous provisions) act, 1952
West Bengal · state statute
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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.
. WHERE~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 he 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 filI 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 XV~II or 1955; and
1955.
'For Stnlcment oTObjecrs and Reasons, scc ihc Culcu~ru Cuteftc, Exfraordir~ny. dared
Ihe 2Oih June, 1952, PI. IVA. pagc 1300: lor pmucdinps oflhc WUI Bengnl Legislative
Asscmbly, see Ihc procredings of thc mmtinp or hc 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 kld on lhc
25th Juty. 1952.
'Clause (a) wa 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 Misccll~cous Provisions) (Amcndrncnt) Act. ,1956 (W~I
Urn hrr XXrV nT fo<hl
Mainrcnmcc
of sccrccy of
voling.
Olticers.
CIC., ar
cltcli~n~ no!
lo 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.
[Wat Ben. Act
(b) "clcclor", in rclation to a conslimency, means a pcrson
whose name is, for thc ~imc 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 is 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 he 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 [em 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 lo 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 vohg of any person at an cleclion in 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 he dare or dales, on which a poll is taken
?[for an election] at any pol ling stalion, commit my 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 he West Bengal
Locd Bodics (Elcc~onl Ofrenics and Misccllmcous Provisio~ls) (Arncndrncn~) Act, 1986
(\Vest Bcn. Act IX or 1956).
'Thcse words withill hc squan: bnclicrs wcrc inscncd by s. 3 orlhc War Bengd Loul
Bodics (ElccloraI Ollenccs and Miscellaneous Revisions) (Amendment) Acl. 1956 (West
D,- A -, VVI-r -C lnCc3
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 he provisions of sub-scclion (1)
shall be punishablc wilh finc which may exlend LO IWO hundred and lifiy
rupees.
(3) An offcnce punishablc under (his sec~ion shall be cognizable.
7. (1) No person shail, on rhc date or dales on which a poll is 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 apparalus 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 he 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 he
contravcnrion or, the provisions of sub-section (1) shall bc punishable
with imprisonment which may cxtend to three months or wih finc or with
b0lh.
(3) If he presiding officcr of a polling s~a~on has reason LO believe
rha~ any person is 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 he polling pol!ing
stabon by ~hc 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 ~fhe War Bengd Ld
Bodies (Electonl 0rCcnce.s and Misccllmcour Pmvision~) (Amendmcnrl ACL 1956 OVest . .
Bcn. ~ct XXlV of 1956).
These words within the squm bnckcrs wen: inserted hy s, 5, ibid.
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 vo~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.
14) An offencc punisliable under sub-sccdon (3) shall be cognizable.
rcnnlry lor 9. If any pcrson is guilly of any such corrupt pracrice as is specilicd . ,
I* * * * * * in clause (vii) of sub-scc~ion (I) oisec~ion 29 of I* - 7 -
nr procuring
of lhe Bcngal Municipal ACI, 1932, or2[jn rule 4 of Part 11 of Schcdule 111 lo Bzn. Acl XV
cOnvc~;mccs ~hc CalcullaMunicipal Corporabon Art, 1980,] a1 or in conncclion wirh an or 1932.
nl clcctions. 'pVc,t Bsn.
clcc~ion, lic shall be punishab1e with fine which may extcnd lo twohundred Acl tl.~
and filly rupees. 1980.1
nrravhcs of
official duly
In
collnccllon
uwi t h
clcction.
10. (1) If any pcrson 10 whom this section applies is wi~l~oul rcason-
able cnusc guilty of any acr or omission in breacli or his official duly, Iic
shall be punjshable with fine which may exlend to five liundrcd rupezs.
(2) No suit or n~lier lcgd proceedings shall lic igainsr ;my such person
for da~nazts in respect of any such act or omission as aiorcsaid.
(3) Thc pcrsons to whom this section applies arc the Re~is~ering
Authoriiies for prepara~ion or reviuon nf elcc~oral rolls, relurning
olfiucrs (which cxpression shall mean the Cl~airrnan of the Conimissioncrs
of nlunicipnlities in rcferencc lo elections under thc Bengal Municipal
Act, 1932), presiding officers, polling officers and any other person
appointed to perform any duty in connecdon with the prcparalian or
revision of an clcctoral roll. !he reccipt of nominations or withdrawal or
cundidarurcs, or the recording or counling of votes a[ an eleclion; and
[he cxpression "orficial duly" shall, For the purposcs of [his sccrion, bc
construed accordingly, but shall not includc dulies i~nposcd orherwise
than by or under '[the Bengal Municip.aI Acr, 1932, or 1hc Cnlcut[a
Municipal Corporalion Act. 1980, or d~e Howrah Municipal Corporation
Act, 19801.
'Thc wurds and figurcs "in ruIc 4 or Pan It or ~hz Founh Schrdulc ro the Bcngd LocaI
Sclf-Govcmnlcnl Acl, 1885 or in rulc 4 ol Paul I1 01 Schedule II 10 ihe Calcuaa Municipal
Acl. 1913.ot'wilh thcrnvginal rcrcrcnces"Bcn. Acl IIIof 1885". and "Bcn, Act 111of 1923."
wcreomi~rcd hy s.3(a)orthc Wcs~Dcn~;11LadB~~~s(ElectonlOi~~nccs~d Miscrllancou~
Provisions) (Ariicndmcnt) Acr, 1981 (Wcsf Ben. ACI XXVI OF 1984).
'The words ad fiyrcs within thc 5quw bnclicts wilh thc mugin31 rr[crcncc (VCR
substi~urrd lor th~- words md figurcs "in rulc 4 oC Part II of Schudule I1 to thc C~lcuna
hlunicip~l Acr. 1951" wilh tlic marginal rcfcrcncr: "~VCSI Bcn, Act LYXIII of 1951." by
s. 3(b), ilrid
'The words and ligurcs within ~lic squm bnckcts wirh thc marginal rcrcrcnves wcrc
substitu~ed for d~c words md [igurrs "hs Bcng~I Local Sclr-Govcmmcnr Acl of 1885 or
thc C~lculta Municipa! Act, 1973 or thc Bcngal Municipd Aci, 1931. or thc Cd:utts
hlunicbp:~l Act. 195 1 ." by s. 4, illid.
'[Bcn. Ac!
XV of 1932.
iVes~ Ben.
Act LIX of -
1980.
West Ben.
Acl LVltl of
1980.1
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 lenn stati~ntok
rn olicncc. which may exlend lo onc ycar or with fine which may extend ro five
hund~~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 hat 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 guil~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
jdcn~i~y ar official cnvelopc used in conncclion with voting;
or
(d) wi~hou~duc 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 in 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.
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) iT hc is a re~urning officer or a presiding officer at a polling
station orany other officer or clcrkcmpIoycd on official duty
in connection wirh [he clcction, be punishable with
imprisonmcnl for a tcm which may extend to two ycws or
wi~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 is 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 be wesl 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 he
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 he Chandernagore w,,, 8,".
Municipal Act, 19551, the District Magistrate; and Act XVl of
1955.
'Thc words md figurrs within thc squarc bmkels 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 ~nqind 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 ha1 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).
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 LVlll 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) he Regislering Aulhority 3[~r election aurhori~y]. in
respcd of 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 he 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 he provisions of O Ihc
his Act may be applicable.
'The words and figuru wirhin hc squm 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 Lod 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.
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 he 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.