203. Requisition of premises, vehicles, etc., for election purposes.
(1)If it appears to an officer authorised by the State Election Commission for conduct of elections to the Zilla Panchayat or a 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 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 or vessel 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 authority may by order in writing requisition such premises, such vehicle or vessel 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 or vessel 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 in such elections.(2)The requisitioning shall be effected by an order in writing addressed to the person deemed by the requisitioning authority, and such order shall be served in the manner prescribed on the person to whom it is addressed.(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 this sub-section.(4)In this section,-(a)"premises" means any land, building or part of building and includes a hut, shed or other structure or part thereof;(b)"vehicle" means any vehicle used or capable of being used for the purposes of road transport, whether propelled by mechanical power or otherwise.
