Prevention of corrupt practices during elections

1[308AC. Prevention of corrupt practices during elections. – (1) The state election commission shall with a view to prevent corrupt practices like bribe and undue influe nce during elections, take the following steps, namely: – (a) the code of conduct shall be brought into force from the date of notification of election to the date of declaration of results; (b) returning officers at the polling booths shall ensure video -graphic recording of the proceedings of the election at 2[hyper sensitive]2 polling station; (c) all liquor shops and liquor manufacturing units within the Panchayat area where the code of conduct is in force shall be completely closed over 2[during the peri od of forty eight hours before closing the polling of election. ]2 The owners, occupiers and the managers, as the case may be, of the liquor shops and liquor manufacturing units shall seal their units during the period 2[forty eight hours before closing the polling of election ]2 and deposit the seal and the keys with the deputy commissioner or the jurisdictional executive magistrate. Anybody found in possession of liquor or creating public nuisance after consuming liquor during the closer period of liquor sh ops shall be kept in preventive custody till completion of the polling date. Violations of the code conduct during the period shall be a cognizable and non -bailable offence and be punishable with fine and imprisonment under relevant law for the time being in force.]1 1[308-AD. Account of election expenses and maximum thereof. - (1) Every candidate at an election to Zilla Panchayat or Taluk Panchayat under this Act shall either by himself or by his election agent, keep a separate and correct account of all expenditure in connection with the election, incurred or authorized by him or by his election agent between the date of which he has been nominated and the date of declaration of the result thereof, both dates inclusive. (2) Any expenditure incurred or authorized in connection with the election of the candidate referred to in sub -section (1) by a political party or by any other assoc iation or body or persons or by any individual (other than the candidate or his election agent) shall not be deemed to be the expenditure in connection with the election incurred or authorized by the candidate or by his election agent for the purpose of su b-section (1). 192 Explanation 1: For the purposes of this sub -section, ‘Political Party’ shall have the same meaning as in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 for the time being in force. Explanation 2: For the removal of dou bts, it is hereby declared that any expenditure incurred in respect of any arrangement made facilities provided or any other act or thing done by any person in the service of the Government or the service of the Zilla Panchayat or Taluk Panchayat as the ca se may be, the discharge or purported discharge of his official duty for, or to, or in relation to any candidate or his election agent or any other person acting with the consent of the candidate or his election agent (whether by reason of the office held by the candidate or for any other reason) shall not be deemed to be expenditure in connection with the election incurred or authorized by a candidate or by his election agent for the purpose of this section. (3) The account shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed. (4) The total of the said expenditure shall not exceed such amount as may be prescribed.]1