Election to the Office of President of India, 2017
Election to the Office of President of India, 2017 (15th Presidential
Election).
The term of office of
Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, is ending on 24th July,
2017. As per Article 62 of the Constitution, an election to
fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing
President is required to be completed before the expiration of the
term. The law provides that the notification for election shall be issued
on or after the sixtieth day before the expiry of term of office of the
outgoing President.
2. Article 324 of the
Constitution read with the Presidential and Vice – Presidential Elections Act,
1952, and the Presidential and Vice – Presidential Elections Rules, 1974 vests
the superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of election to the
office of the President of India in the Election Commission of India. The
Election Commission is mandated to ensure that the election to the office
of the President of India, which is the highest elective office in the nation,
must be a free and fair election and the Commission is taking all necessary
steps for discharging its constitutional responsibility.
3. The President is
elected by the members of the Electoral College consisting of:
(I) elected members of both Houses of
Parliament, and
(II)
elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all States including National
Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
(The nominated members of either Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha or
Legislative Assemblies of the States are not eligible to be included in the
Electoral College and therefore, they are not entitled to participate in the
election. Similarly, members of the Legislative Councils are also not electors
for the Presidential election).
4. Article 55 (3) of the
Constitution provides that the election shall be held in accordance with the
System of Proportional Representation by means of single transferable vote and
the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. In this system,
the elector has to mark preferences against the names of the candidates.
Preference can be marked in the international form of Indian numerals, in Roman
form, or in the form in any recognised Indian languages. Preference has
to be marked in figures only. The elector can mark as many preference as the
number of candidates. While the marking of the first preference is compulsory
for the ballot paper to be valid, other preferences are optional.
5. For marking the vote,
the Commission will supply particular pens. This pen will be given to the
electors in the polling station by the designated official when the
ballot paper is handed over. Electors have to mark the ballot only with
this particular pen and not with any other pen. Voting by using any other
pen may lead to invalidation of the vote at the time of counting, under Rule
31(1) (d) of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974,
reproduced below:-
“ A ballot paper shall be invalid on
which-
……………….
(d) any mark is made by which the
elector may afterwards be identified” .
6. The Election
Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, appoints the
Secretary General of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, by rotation, as the Returning
Officer. Accordingly, the Secretary General, Lok Sabha will be appointed as the
Returning Officer for the present election. Poll for the election will be
taken in the Parliament House and in the premises of the State Legislative
Assemblies, including the Legislative Assemblies of NCT of Delhi and
Puducherry. The Commission has also decided to appoint Assistant
Returning Officers in all State Capitals, including NCT of Delhi and Union
Territory of Puducherry, for making arrangements for conducting the poll and
for transportation of the ballot boxes and other important documents to and
from the Election Commission. For meeting any eventuality in case the
Assistant Returning Officer is not available for any reason, a second Assistant
Returning Officer is also being appointed. A list of Assistant Returning
Officers is at Appendix-I.
7. In pursuance of
sub–section (1) of section (4) of the Presidential and Vice Presidential
Elections Act, 1952, the Election Commission of India has fixed the schedule
for the election to fill the office of the President of India as given in Appendix
II.
8. The nomination paper
of a candidate must be delivered to the Returning Officer at New Delhi in the
place to be specified by him by a public notice that will be issued by him (in
Form-1 appended to the Presidential and Vice- Presidential Elections,
Rules, 1974), and at no other place. Under the law, nomination (in prescribed
Form 2) can be filed either by the candidate himself or by
any of his Proposers or Seconders between 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Nomination
cannot be filed on public holidays. A nomination paper of a
candidate has to be subscribe d by at least fifty electors as Proposers and
by at least another fifty electors as Seconders. An elector
can subscribe to only one nomination paper of a candidate as either a Proposer
or a Seconder. If an elector subscribes more than one nomination paper, his
signature on the nomination papers other than the one first delivered to the
Returning Officer, will be invalid. A candidate can file maximum of four
nomination papers. The security deposit for the election is Rs. 15,000/-
(Rupees fifteen thousand only), which is required to be made along with the
nomination paper, or should be deposited in Reserve Bank of India or a Govt.
Treasury under the relevant Head of Accounts for the purpose prior to filing of
nomination.
9. The list of members
of the Electoral College maintained by the Commission for the Presidential
Election, 2017, would be available for sale @ Rs. 300/- per copy from the
counter opened in the premises of Election Commission of India. A copy of
the Electoral College is also being uploaded on the Commission’s website.
10. The polling, if required, shall
take place in the polling stations as given in the list at Appendix-III.
11. Each contesting candidate
can authorize a representative to be present in each place of polling
(polling stations) and at the place fixed for counting (counting hall).
Authorization of representatives for this purpose shall be made by the
candidate in writing.
12. Normally, members of Parliament
are expected to cast their votes at the Place pf Poll in the Parliament House,
New Delhi, and members of State Legislative Assemblies are expected to vote at
the respective State Capital. However, on account of any exigency or
special circumstances, the Members of Parliament can vote in any of the polling
stations in the State capital/Delhi/Puducherry. Similarly, any MLA
may vote at New Delhi instead of voting in the respective State
Capital. For this purpose, the MPs/MLAs concerned have to apply in
advance to the Election Commission in the prescribed format so as to reach the
Election Commission at least 10 days before the date of poll. The format for
making such application will be available with the Returning Officer and with
the Assistant Returning Officers.
13. The Constitution has expressly
provided that election to the office of President shall be by secret ballot.
Therefore, the electors are expected to scrupulously maintain secrecy of
vote. There is no concept of open voting at this election and
showing the ballot to anyone under any circumstances in the case of
Presidential and Vice Presidential elections is totally prohibited. Voting
procedure laid down in the 1974 Rules provides that after marking the vote in
the Voting Compartment, the elector is required to fold the ballot paper and
insert it in the Ballot Box. Any violation of the voting procedure will entail
cancellation of the ballot paper by the Presiding Officer. As already mentioned
in paragraph 4, marking of vote can be done only with the particular pen
supplied to the electors in the polling station.
14. In this connection, it is also clarified
that political parties cannot issue any whip to their MPs and MLAs in the
matter of voting in the Presidential election. It is also clarified that as per
Section 18 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952,
the offence of ‘bribery’ or ‘undue influence’ as defined in Sections 171B and
171C of IPC, by the returned candidate or any person with the
consent of the returned candidate are among the grounds on which the election
can be declared void by the Hon’ble supreme Court in an Election Petition.
15. The Chief Electoral Officers of
each State including NCT of Delhi and UT of Puducherry shall supervise and
coordinate with the Assistant Returning Officers for the conduct of poll at the
respective State Capitals and matters such as transport of the ballot boxes and
other important documents from the Election Commission to the respective State
Capitals and back to New Delhi after the poll.
16. Counting of votes will be held
in New Delhi under the supervision of the Returning Officer. On completion of
counting, Return of Election ( in Form 7 appended to the Presidential and
Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974) will be signed and issued by the
Returning Officer declaring the candidate who secures the quota elected. Formal
announcement of election of the President will be made by the Commission.
17. The Commission appoints senior
Officers of the Government of India as its Observers at the place(s) of polling
to ensure proper conduct of poll.
18. The Commission
has brought out a comprehensive booklet covering all aspects of election to the
office of the President and copies of the publication can be obtained @ Rs.
25/- per copy from the Commission’s sale counter or from the offices of the
Chief Electoral Officers in different States and Union Territories.
***
Appendix-I
Assistant Returning Officers at Parliament
Shri Ravindra Garimella, Joint Secretary,
Lok Sabha Secretariat,
Parliament House,
New Delhi-110001.
Shri Vinay Kumar Mohan, Director,
Lok Sabha Secretariat,
Parliament House,
New Delhi-110001.
ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICERS
Sl.No State/Union Territory Officers appointed as Assistant Returning Officer
(1) (2) (3)
1. Andhra Pradesh
1. Shri K. Satyanarayana Rao, Secretary to State Legislature (incharge), Public Gardens, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad-500 004.
2. Shri P. Balakrishnamacharyulu, Deputy Secretary to State
Legislature, Public Gardens, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad-500 004.
2. Arunachal Pradesh
1. Shri Modan Lasa, Secretary,
Legislative Assembly Arunachal Pradesh, Naharlagun – 791110
2. Shri Kago Habung, Additional Secretary,
Legislative Assembly Arunachal Pradesh, Naharlagun-791110
3. Assam
1. Shri M. K. Deka, Principal Secretary,
Assam Legislative Assembly, Dispur, Guwahati-6
2. Shri A. N. Deka, Additional Secretary,
Assam Legislative Assembly, Dispur, Guwahati-6
4. Bihar 1. Shri Ram Shreshtha Roy, Secretary,
Bihar Legislative Assembly, Patna
2. Shri Bhushan Kumar Jha, Deputy Secretary,
Bihar Legislative Assembly, Patna
5. Chhattisgarh 1. Shri Devendra Verma, Principal Secretary,
Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
2. Shri Chandra Shekhar Gangrade, Additional Secretary,
Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
6. Goa 1. Shri N.B. Subhedar, Secretary,
Goa Legislature Secretariat.
2
2. Mrs. Namrata Ulman, Joint Secretary,
Goa Legislature Secretariat.
7. Gujarat 1. Shri D.M. Patel, Secretary,
Gujarat Legislature Secretariat,
Viththalbhai Patel Bhavan, Sector No.-10,
Gandhinagar-382010
2. Shri S.M. Memon, Deputy Secretary,
Gujarat Legislature Secretariat,
Viththalbhai Patel Bhavan, Sector No.-10,
Gandhinagar-382010
8. Haryana 1. Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Labour Commissioner,
Secretary of Labour Department, Government of Haryana.
2. Shri Naren Dutt, Joint Secretary,
Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Bhawan,
Sector-1, Chandigarh.
9. Himachal Pradesh 1. Shri Sunder Singh Verma, Secretary,
Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
2. Shri Lal Singh Kanwar, Deputy Secretary,
Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
10. Jammu & Kashmir 1. Mr. M .R. Singh, Secretary,
Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly,
Assembly Secretariat Jammu/Srinagar.
2. Gh. Mohi-ud-din Bhat, Deputy Secretary,
Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly,
Assembly Secretariat Jammu/Srinagar.
11. Jharkhand 1. Shri Binay Kumar Singh, Secretary-In- Charge,
Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, Ranchi.
2. Shri Ranjeet Kumar, Joint Secretary,
Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, Ranchi.
12. Karnataka 1. Shri S. Murthy, Secretary (I/C),
Karnataka Legislative Assembly,
P.B. No. 5074, Room No. 121, 1st Floor,
Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru-560233
2. Shri M. S. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Secretary,
Karnataka Legislative Assembly,
P.B. No. 5074, Room No. 127/A, 1st Floor,
Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru-560233
13. Kerala 1. Shri. V. K. Babu Prakash, Secretary,
Kerala Legislature Secretariat,
Thiruvananthapuram-695033
2. Smt. A. Shaila, Joint Secretary,
Kerala Legislature Secretariat,
Thiruvananthapuram-695033
14. Madhya Pradesh 1. Shri Awadhesh Pratap Singh, Principal Secretary,
Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Secretariat,
Bhopal-462004(M.P)
2. Shri Prem Narayan Vishwakarma, Additional Secretary,
Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Secretariat,
Bhopal-462004(M.P)
15. Maharashtra 1. Dr. A. N. Kalse, Principal Secretary,
Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat,
Vidhan Bhavan, Backbay Reclamation,
Mumbai-400032.
2. Shri R. J. Kudtarkar, Deputy Secretary,
Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat,
Vidhan Bhavan, Backbay Reclamation,
Mumbai-400032.
16.Manipur 1. Smt. M. Ramani Devi, Secretary,
Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chingmeirong,
Imphal, Manipur.
2. Shri Rohit Sapam, Joint Secretary,
Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chingmeirong,
Imphal, Manipur.
17. Meghalaya 1. Shri Andrew Simons, Commissioner & Secretary,
Meghalaya Legislature Assembly.
2. Shri Foster G. Momin, Deputy Secretary,
Meghalaya Legislature Assembly
18. Mizoram 1. Shri Ngurthanzuala, Secretary,
Mizoram Legislative Assembly Secretariat,
Aizawl-796001.
2. Shri S. R. Zokhuma, Additional Secretary,
Mizoram Legislative Assembly Secretariat,
Aizawl-796001.
19. Nagaland 1. Shri N. Benjamin Newmai, Commissioner & Secretary,
Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
2. Shri K. Sekhose, Secretary,
Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
20. Odisha 1. Shri Amiya Kumar Sarangi, Secretary,
Odisha Legislative Assembly,
Odisha Legislative Assembly Secretariat,
Bhuaneshwar, District-Khurda, Odisha -751001.
2. Shri Bhawani Sankar Senapati, Joint Secretary,
Odisha Legislative Assembly,
Odisha Legislative Assembly Secretariat,
Bhubaneswar, District-Khurda, Odisha -751001.
21. Punjab 1. Shri Shashi Lakhanpal Mishra, Secretary,
Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretariat,
Sector-1, Chandigarh.
2. Shri. Anil Vij, Additional Secretary,
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat,
Sector-1, Chandigarh.
22. Rajasthan 1. Shri Prithvi Raj, Secretary,
Rajasthan Legislative assembly.
2. Shri Mahesh Chandra Sharma, Assistant Secretary,
Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
23. Sikkim 1. Shri L. M. Pradhan, IAS Secretary,
Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
2. Smt. Durga D. Pradhan, Additionally Secretary
Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
24. Tamil Nadu 1. Thiru K. Boopathy, Additional Secretary/Secretary I/C,
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat,
Chennai-600009.
2. Thiru B. Subramaniyam, Joint Secretary,
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat,
Chennai-600009.
25. Telangana 1. Dr. S. Raja Sadaram, Secretary to State Legislature,
Telangana Legislature Secretariat, Public Gardens,
Hyderabad-500004.
2. Dr. V. Narasimha Charyulu, Joint Secretary to State Legislature,
Telangana Legislature Secretariat, Public Gardens,
Hyderabad-500004.
26. Tripura 1. Shri Bamdeb Majumder, Secretary,
Tripura Legislative assembly,
Agartala-799010.
2. Smt. Lily Debbarma, Joint Secretary,
Tripura Legislative assembly,
Agartala-799010.
27. Uttarakhand 1. Shri Jagdish Chandra, Secretary,
303 Vidhan Sabha Bhawan, Dehradun.
2. Shri Madan Singh Kunjwal, Joint Secretary,
309 Vidhan Sabha bhawan, Dehradun.
28. Uttar Pradesh 1. Shri Pradeep Kumar Dubey, Principal Secretary,
Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Bhavan,
Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow – 226001
2. Shri Pramod Kumar Joshi, Special Secretary,
Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan bhavan,
Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow – 226001.
29. West Bengal 1. Shri Jayanta Koley, Secretary,
West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Assembly House,
Kolkata-700001
2. Shri Dhritiranjan Pahari, Joint Secretary-cum-Committee Officer,
West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Assembly House,
Kolkata-700001
30. NCT of Delhi 1. Shri Amjad Tak, Deputy Commissioner
South Delhi.
2. Shri Abhishek Dev, Deputy Commissioner
South-West Delhi.
31. Puducherry 1. Thiru. A. Vincent Rayar, Secretary,
Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Victor Simonel Street,
Puducherry-605001.
2. Tmt. S. Bhuvaneswari, Editor of Debates,
Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Victor Simonel Street,
Puducherry-605001.
*****
Appendix-II
SCHEDULE FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 2017
Issue of Election Commission’s notification calling the
election
14-06-2017
(Wednesday)
Last date for making nominations 28-06-2017
(Wednesday)
Date for the scrutiny of nominations 29-06-2017
(Thursday)
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures 01-07-2017
(Saturday)
Date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken 17-07-2017 (Monday)
Date on which counting, if required, shall be taken 20-07-2017
(Thursday)
*******
Appendix-III
Sl.No. Place of Polling Group of electors who will be entitled to vote at the place
(1) (2) (3)
1. Room No. 62, Parliament House, New Delhi-110001.
Elected Members of both Houses of Parliament.
2. Committee Hall No. 201, First Floor,Assembly Buildings, Velagapudi,
Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh.
Elected Members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
3. Conference Room No. 1, premises of Arunachal Pradesh New Legislative
Assembly Secretariat, Itanagar.
Elected Members of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
4. Central Hall, Assam Legislative Assembly Building, Dispur.
Elected Members of the Assam Legislative Assembly
5. Reading Room upper floor of Library, Bihar Legislative Assembly, Patna.
Elected Members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly
6. Committee Room No. 2, Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Secretariat,
Raipur.
Elected Members of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly
7. Room No. 015, Ground Floor, VIP Block, Assembly Complex, Porvorim.
Elected Members of the Goa Legislative Assembly
8. Saputara Committee Hall, Ground Floor, Swarnim Sankul-2, Gandhinagar.
Elected Members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly
9. Old Committee Room, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Vidhan Bhawan,
Chandigarh.
Elected Members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly
10. “Dr. Y. S. Parmar Vidhan Sabha Library Hall”, Himachal Pradesh
Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Shimla.
Elected Members of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
11. J & K Legislative Assembly Lobby, New Legislature Complex, Srinagar.
Elected Members of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly
12. Nyayadhikaran Kaksh (Tribunal Room),premises of Jharkhand Legislative
Assembly, Ranchi.
Elected Members of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly
13. Room No. 106, 1st Floor, Vidhana Soudha, premises of Karnataka
Legislative Assembly, Bengaluru-560233.
Elected Members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly
14. Room No. 604, 2nd Floor, Kerala Legislative Assembly Building
Legislature Complex, Vikas Bhavan P.O, Thiruvananthapuram-33.
Elected Members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly
2
15. Committee Room No. 2, M-02 (Ground Floor), Indira Gandhi Vidhan Bhawan,
Arera Hills, Bhopal (M.P.).
Elected Members of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
16. Central Hall, 4th Floor, Vidhan Bhavan, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai-400032.
Elected Members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly
17. Committee Room, Manipur Legislative Assembly, Chingmeirong, Imphal,
Manipur – 795001.
Elected Members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly
18. Annexe Hall, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Rilbong, Shillong.
Elected Members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
19. Committee Room, Mizoram Legislative Assembly, Main Building (2nd Floor),
Treasury Square, Aizawl.
Elected Members of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly
20. Annexe of the Conference Room, Assembly Secretariat, Kohima.
Elected Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly
21. Room No. 54 (1st Floor), Odisha Legislative Assembly Buildings,
Bhubaneswar.
Elected Members of the Odisha Legislative Assembly
22. ‘Committee Room A’, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Vidhan Bhawan,
Chandigarh.
Elected Members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly
23. Room No. 751, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Jaipur.
Elected Members of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
24. Room No. 2, Sikkim Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Gangtok.
Elected Members of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly
25. Committee Room, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Fort
St. George, Chennai-600009.
Elected Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
26. Committee Hall No. 1, Assembly Buildings, Public Gardens, Hyderabad.
Elected Members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly
27. Assembly Lobby, Tripura Legislative Assembly, Agartala.
Elected Members of the Tripura Legislative Assembly
28. Room No. 321, Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, Dehradun.
Elected Members of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly
29. Tilak Hall, Vidhan Bhawan, Lucknow. Elected Members of the Uttar Pradesh
Legislative Assembly
30. Assembly Chamber of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Kolkata.
Elected Members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
31. Committee Room No. 01, Delhi Legislative Assembly, Old Secretariat,
Delhi-110054.
Elected Members of the NCT of Delhi Legislative Assembly
3
32. Committee Room, Ground Floor, Southern Block of Puducherry
Legislative Assembly Secretariat,Puducherry.
Elected Members of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly
Post a Comment