Section 22

[Repealed] (1) Where on preparing the list under Rule 20, the Returning Officer finds that the number of contesting candidates does not exceed the number of seats and there are no seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes, he shall forthwith declare all such candidates as duly elected. (2) If out of the seats to be filled one or more are reserved for members of the Scheduled Castes. (a) If the number of contesting candidates who are members of the Scheduled Castes does not exceed the number of reserved seats and the number of other contesting candidates exceeds the number of seats not reserved, the Returning Officer shall declare all candidates who are members of the Scheduled Castes to be duly elected to as many of the reserved seats as there are such candidates; (b) if the number of the contesting candidates who are members of the Scheduled Castes does not exceed the number of reserved seats and the number of other contesting candidates does not exceed the number of seats not reserved for the Scheduled Castes, the Returning Officer shall at first declare all the candidates who are members of the Scheduled Castes to be duly elected to as many of the reserved seats as there are such candidates and then declare the other candidates to be duly elected to fill as many of the unreserved seats as there are such candidates; and (c) if the number of contesting candidates who are members of the Scheduled Castes exceeds the number of reserved seats but the total number of contesting candidates does not exceed the total number of seats, the Returning Officer shall, to be drawn by him in such manner as he may determine, the candidates to be declared elected to the reserved seats out of the candidates who are members of the Scheduled Castes and declare the candidates so selected to be duly elected to fill the reserved seats and thereafter declare the remaining candidates to be duly elected to fill as many of the unreserved seats as there are contesting candidates left. (3) The Returning Officer shall report to the Deputy Commissioner, the names of candidates declared elected under this rule and the nature of seats (whether reserved or unreserved) to which they were elected and he will also report the number of seats of either nature remaining unfilled. (4) In the case mentioned in clause (a) of sub-rule (2), the Returning Officer shall order that the poll shall be taken for the unreserved seats alone and in the other cases under this rule no poll shall be taken.