WBPE ActWest Bengal2003
The West Bengal Panchayat Elections Act, 2003
Some chapters of this Act are incomplete in our copy — a few sections did not come through from the source. For a section missing here, read the Government text (India Code or the State Gazette).
Act No. 21 of 2003
- Sections
- 115
- Chapters
- 10
- Classified offences
- 19
Contents
IIQualifications and Disqualifications§ 4–118 sections
- 4Qualifications for membership of a Gram Panchayat
- 5Qualifications for membership of a Panchayat Samiti
- 6Qualifications for membership of a Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad
- 7Disqualifications for membership of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad
- 8Bar to simultaneous candidature for election
- 9Bar to simultaneous membership
- 10[ Simultaneous membership to Assembly or Parliament-and Panchayats in respect of a member of Panchayat Samitior Zilla Parishad or Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad. [Substituted by Act No. 38 of 2017, dated 16.10.2017.]
- 11Cessation of membership when character of the constituency is altered or changed
IIIChapter IV§ 12–209 sections
- 12Total number of members in a Gram Panchayat
- 13Allocation of seats by the prescribed authority
- 14Total number of members in a Panchayat Samiti
- 15Total number of members in a Zilla Parishad or Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad
- 16Determination of constituencies of Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad or Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad
- 17Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes [Backward Classes] [Inserted by Act No. 23 of 2012, dated 24.8.2012.] and Woman candidates
- 18[ Reservation of seats ·for office bearers of Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samiti. [Substituted by Act No. 23 of 2012, dated 24.8.2012.]
- 19Reservation of office bearers of Zilla Parishnd or Siliguri Mahakuma Parishnd
- 20Co-option of persons in respective category
IVChapter V§ 21–3010 sections
- 21Officers
- 22General duties of the District Panchayat Election Officer
- 23Panchayat Returning Officer
- 24Assistant Panchayat Returning Officer
- 25Panchayat Electoral Registration Officer
- 26Assistant Panchayat Electoral Registration Officer
- 27Polling stations
- 28Appointment of Presiding Officer and polling officers
- 29General duty of Presiding Officer
- 30Duties of polling officer
VChapter VI§ 31–4111 sections
- 31Preparation of electoral roll
- 32Eligibility for registration
- 33Meaning of 'ordinarily resident'
- 34Preparation, publication and revision of electoral roll
- 35Adoption of Assembly electoral roll
- 36Correction of entries in electoral roll
- 37Inclusion of names in electoral roll
- 38Bar to jurisdiction of the Civil Courts
- 39Punishment for false declaration
- 40Appeal
- 41Fees for applications and appeals
VIConduct of Elections.§ 42–6120 sections
- 42Notification for election
- 43Appointment of dates of various stages of election
- 44Public notice of election
- 45Nomination of candidates
- 46Presentation of nomination papers and requirement for valid nomination
- 47Deposits
- 48Notice of nomination and the time and place for their scrutiny
- 49Scrutiny of nominations
- 50Withdrawal of candidature
- 51Preparation of list of contesting candidates and allotment of symbol
- 52Publication of list of contesting candidates
- 53Appointment of election agents
- 54Disqualification for being an election agent
- 55Revocation of appointment, or death, of an election agent
- 56Functions of election agent
- 57Appointment of polling agent
- 58Appointment of counting agent
- 59Revocation of the appointment, or death, of a polling agent or counting agent
- 60Functions of polling agents and counting agents
- 61Attendance of a contesting candidate or his election agent at polling stations, and performance by him of the functions of a polling agent or counting agent
VIIDisputes Regarding Elections§ 78–9720 sections
- 78Definitions
- 79Disputes as to elections
- 80Election petitions
- 81Parties to the petition
- 82Contents of petition
- 83Relief that may be claimed by the petitioner
- 84Trial of election petitions
- 85Procedure before the Court
- 86Documentary evidence
- 87Secrecy of voting not to be infringed
- 88Answering of criminating questions and certificate of indemnity
- 89Expenses of witnesses
- 90Recrimination when seat is claimed
- 91Decision of the Court
- 92Other orders to be made by the Court
- 93Grounds for declaring election to be void
- 94Grounds for which a candidate other than the returned candidate may be declared to have been elected
- 95Procedure in case of an equality of votes
- 96Communication of orders of the Court
- 97Effect of orders of the Court
VIIIChapter XIV§ 104–12118 sections
- 104Promoting enmity between classes in connection with election
- 105Prohibition of public meetings during period of forty-eight hours fixed for conclusion of Poll
- 106Disturbances at election meetings
- 107Restrictions on the printing of pamphlets, posters, etc
- 108Maintenance of secrecy of voting
- 109Officers etc. at elections not to act for candidates or to influence voting
- 110Prohibition of canvassing in or near polling stations
- 111Penalty of disorderly conduct in or near polling stations
- 112Penalty for misconduct at the polling station
- 113Penalty for failure to observe procedure for voting
- 114Penalty for illegal hiring or procuring of conveyance at election
- 115Breaches of official duty in connection with election
- 116Penalty for the State Government servants for acting as election agent, polling agent or counting agent
- 117Prohibition of going armed to, or near, polling station
- 118Removal of ballot papers from polling station to be an offence
- 119Offence of booth capturing
- 120Liquor not to be sold, given or distributed on polling day
- 121Other offences and penalties thereof
IXChapter XV§ 122–13312 sections
- 122Local political party
- 123Protection of action taken in good faith
- 124Casual vacancies in Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad or the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad
- 125Return or forfeiture of candidate's deposit
- 126Staff of every local authority to be made available for election work
- 127Requisitioning of premises, property, vehicles etc. for election purpose
- 128Payment of compensation
- 129Power to obtain information
- 130Powers of entry into, and inspection of, premises
- 131Eviction from requisitioned premises
- 132Release of premises from requisition
- 133Penalty for contravention of any order regarding requisitioning
XChapter XVI§ 134–1374 sections