Appointment of presiding officers for polling stations
Section 26 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 deals with appointment of presiding officers for polling stations. The [district election officer] shall appoint a presiding officer for each polling station and such polling officer or officers as he thinks necessary, but he shall not appoint any person who has been employed by or on behalf of, or has been otherwise working for, a candidate in or about the electio The Act came into force on 17 Jul 1951.
(1) The 1[district election officer] shall appoint a presiding officer for each polling station and such polling officer or officers as he thinks necessary, but he shall not appoint any person who has been employed by or on behalf of, or has been otherwise working for, a candidate in or about the election:
Provided that if a polling officer is absent from the polling station, the presiding officer may appoint any person who is present at the polling station other than a person who has been employed by or on behalf of, or has been otherwise working for, a candidate in or about the election, to be the polling officer during the absence of the former officer, and inform the 1[district election officer] accordingly:
2[Provided further that nothing in this sub-section shall prevent that 1[district election officer] from appointing the same person to be the presiding officer for more than one polling station in the same premises.]
(2) A polling officer shall, if so directed by the presiding officer, perform all or any of the functions of a presiding officer under this Act or any rules or orders made thereunder.
(3) If the presiding officer, owing to illness or other unavoidable cause, is obliged to absent himself from the polling station, his functions shall be performed by such polling officer as has been previously authorised by the 1[district election officer] to perform such functions during any such absence.
(4) References in this Act to the presiding officer shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to include any person performing any function which he is authorised to perform under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3), as the case may be.
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Section 26, The Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Act 43 of 1951).
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 26
What does Section 26 of the Representation of the People Act deal with?
Section 26 of the Representation of the People Act is headed "Appointment of presiding officers for polling stations". The [district election officer] shall appoint a presiding officer for each polling station and such polling officer or officers as he thinks necessary, but he shall not appoint any person who has been employed by or on behalf of, or has been otherwise working for, a candidate in or about the electio
How do I find court cases under Section 26 of the Representation of the People Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: RP Act 1951 26, section 26 RP Act 1951, section 26 of the Representation of the People Act. People searching for it also type section 26 of the representation of the people act 1951. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 26 of the Representation of the People Act, and has it changed?
One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently The Conduct Of Election Rules,1961 (1961).
When did Section 26 of the Representation of the People Act come into force?
Section 26 of the Representation of the People Act, cited as RP Act 1951 26, came into force on 17 Jul 1951, having been enacted on 17 Jul 1951. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 123. Corrupt practices1710 words
- 33. Presentation of nomination paper and requirement for a valid nomination1149 words
- 8. Disqualification on conviction for certain offences898 words
- 75A. Declaration of assets and liabilities659 words
- 39. Nomination of candidates at other elections632 words
- 36. Scrutiny of nominations596 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.