Requisitioning of premises, vehicles, etc. for election purpose.

271. Requisitioning of premises, vehicles, etc., for election purpose. - (1) If it appears to an officer authorised by the State Election Commission f or the conduct of elections to the Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Grama Panchayat under this Act (hereinafter referred to as "the requisitioning authority") that in connection with an election under this Act, - (a) any premises is needed or is likel y to be needed for the purpose of being used as a polling station or for the storage of ballot boxes after a poll has been taken, or (b) any vehicle, vessel or animal is needed or is likely to be needed for the purpose of transport of ballot boxes to or from any polling station or transport of members of the police force for maintaining order during the conduct of such election, or transport of any officer or other person for performance of any duties in connection with such election the requisitioning a uthority may by order in writing requisition such premises, or as the case may be, such vehicle, vessel or animal and may make such further orders as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient in connection with the requisitioning: Provided that no veh icle, vessel or animal which is being lawfully used by a candidate or his agent for any purpose connected with the election of such candidate shall be requisitioned under this sub -section, until the completion of the poll at such elections. (2) The requis itioning shall be effected by an order in writing addressed to the person deemed by the requisitioning authority to be the owner or person in possession of the property, and such order shall be served in the manner prescribed on the person to whom it is ad dressed. (3) Whenever any property is requisitioned under sub -section (1), the period of such requisitioning shall not extend beyond the period for which such property is required for any of the purposes mentioned in that sub -section. (4) In this section ,- (a) "premises" means any land, building or part of a building and includes a hut, shed or other structure or any part thereof; (b) "vehicle" means any vehicle used or capable of being used for the purpose of road transport, whether propelled by mech anical power or otherwise.