Penalty for illegal hiring or procuring of conveyance at elections

(1) No candidate or his agent or any other person shall hire or procure whether on payment or otherwise any vehicle or vessel for the conveyance of any elector (other than the candidate himself, a member of his family or his agent) to or from any polling station provided for the election : Provided that the prohibition contained in this section shall not apply to- (a) the hiring of a vehicle or vessel by an elector or by several electors at their joint costs for the purpose of conveying him or them to or from any such polling station if the vehicle or vessel so hired is a vehicle or vessel not propelled by mechanical power; or (b) the use of any public transport vehicle or railway carriage by any elector at his own cost for the purpose of going to or coming from any such polling station. (2) Any person who contravenes sub-section (1) shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees. Explanation. - In this clause, the expression "vehicle" means any vehicle used or capable of being used for the purpose of road transport, whether propelled by mechanical power or otherwise, and whether used for drawing other vehicles or otherwise.