44. Requisitioning of premises vehicles etc., for election purposes. - (1) If it appears to an official authorised by the State Government in this behalf (for conduct of elections under this Act) (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 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 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 authority 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 vehicle, 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 prescribed by rules made by the State Government under this Act, on the person to whom it is addressed.(3)Wherever 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 or 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 mechanical power or otherwise.
