198. Notification and appointment of Returning Officers.
(1)For the purpose of holding elections to fill ordinary or casual vacancies, the State Election Commission shall, by notification under sub-section (6) of section 197, published in the Gazette, call upon such date or dates, as may be specified therein, the voters of the Gram Panchayat or Mandal Praja Parishad or Zilla Praja Parishad, as the case may be, to elect Sarpanch and members of the Gram Panchayat and/or Members of the Mandal Praja Parishad and/or Members of the Zilla Praja Parishad, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the rules and orders, if any, made thereunder.(2)The said notification shall specify the time Schedule for various stages of the ordinary elections as well as the elections to fill the casual vacancies, which shall be that,-From the date of election notice under sub-section (3),(a)nomination shall be filed#Within a period of three days (including the day of notice) upto 5.00 p.m. (whether or not it is a holiday)(b)scrutiny of nominations shall be completed#on the fourth day by 5.00 p.m. (whether or not it is a holiday)(c)Appeal against rejection of nomination shall be filed, before the Revenue Divisional Officer/District Collector#on the fifth day upto 5.00 p.m. (whether or not it is a holiday)(d)Disposal of appeal against rejection of nomination by the Revenue Divisional Officer/District Collector#on the sixth day before 5.00 p.m. (whether or not it is a holiday)(e)withdrawal of candidatures shall be allowed#on the seventh day upto 3.00 p.m. (whether or not it is a holiday)(f)publication of final list of contesting candidates#on the seventh day itself, after the withdrawal of candidatures by 3.00 p.m. (whether or not it is a holiday)(g)polling shall be held, wherever necessary#on the fifteenth day, (whether or not it is a holiday)(h)counting of votes and declaration of results, in respect of Gram Panchayats#on the fifteenth day i.e. the date of polling.(i)counting of votes and declaration of results in respect of members of Mandal Praja Parishads, and Zilla Praja Parishads; and offices of Presidents and Chairmen thereof#on the time and date appointed by the State Election Commission.(3)The Returning Officer appointed for the purpose of conducting elections to the Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads and Zilla Praja Parishads, shall as per the above time Schedule specified by the State Election Commission issue the Election Notice for election of the Sarpanch, members of the Gram Panchayat, Mandal Praja Parishad, Zilla Praja Parishad etc. and the time Schedule shall commence from that date.
