Disturbances at election meetings

(1) Any person who at a public meeting to which this section applies acts, or incites others to act, in a disorderly manner for the purpose of preventing the transaction of the business for which the meeting was called together, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both. An offence punishable under this sub-section shall be cognizable. Explanation: ‘Public meeting’ means meeting of a political character held in any ward between the date of the issue of a notification under this Act calling upon the ward to elect a councillor or councillors and the date on which such election is held. (2) If any police officer reasonably suspects that any person is committing an offence under subsection (1) he may, if requested so to do by the chairman of the meeting require that person to declare him immediately his name and address and, if that person refuses or fails so to declare his name and address, or if the police officer reasonably suspects him of giving a false name or address, the police officer may arrest him without warrant.