Requisitioning of premises, vehicles, etc., for municipal elections.

Requisitioning of premises, vehicles, etc., for municipal elections. (1) If on a request made by the Municipal Commissioner or Chief Officer of a municipal council in that behalf or on its or his own motion it appears to the Government or an officer authorised by the Government (hereinafter referred to as the requisitioning authority), that in connection with an election under this Act,— (a) any premises are needed or are likely 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 the performance of any duties in connection with such election, the requisitioning authority may by order in writing requisition such premises or such vehicle, vessel or animal, as the case may be, and may make such further orders as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient in connection with the requisitioning: Provided that no vehicle, 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 election. (2) The requisition 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 specified in section 262 on the person to whom it is addressed. (3) Whenever any property is requisitioned under sub-section (1), the period of such requisition shall not extend beyond the period for which such property is required for any of the purposes mentioned in that sub-section. Explanation.—For the purpose of this section “premises” means any land, building or part of a building and includes a hut, shed or other structure or any part thereof.