2. Interpretation.—
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) each of the expressions defined in section 2 or sub-section
(1) of section 27 of the
Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950), but not defined in this Act, shall have the same
meaning as in that Act;
(b) “appropriate authority” means, in relation to an election to the House of the People or the
Council of States 2***, the Central Government, and in relation to an election to the Legislative
Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State, the State Government;
[(bb) “chief electoral officer” means the officer appointed under section 13A of the
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Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950);]
(c) “corrupt practice” means any of the practices specified in section 123 4***;
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[(cc) “district election officer” means the officer designated or nominated under section 13AA of
the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950);]
(d) “election” means an election to fill a seat or seats in either House of Parliament or in the
House or either House of the Legislature of a State 6*** 7***;
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[
(e) “elector” in relation to a constituency means a person whose name is entered in the electoral
roll of that constituency for the time being in force and who is not subject to any of the
disqualifications mentioned in section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950);]
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[
(f) “political party” means an association or a body of individual citizens of India registered
with the Election Commission as a political party under section 29A;]
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
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[
(h) “public holiday” means any day which is a public holiday for the purposes of section 25 of
the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881);]
[
(i)] “sign”, in relation to a person who is unable to write his name, means authenticate in such
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manner as may be prescribed.
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1. The words “and illegal” omitted by Act 27 of 1956, s. 2 (w.e.f. 28-8-1956).
2. Certain words omitted by Act 103 of 1956, s. 66 (w.e.f. 1-1-1957).
3. Ins. by Act 27 of 1956, s. 3 (w.e.f. 28-8-1956).
4. The words and figures “or section 124” omitted by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 28-8-1956).
5. Ins. by Act 47 of 1966, s. 15 (w.e.f. 14-12-1966).
6. The words “other than the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95, 96 and the Fifth Schedule
(w.e.f. 31-10-2019).
7. Certain words omitted by Act 58 of 1958, s. 14 (w.e.f. 30-12-1958).
8. Subs. by Act 27 of 1956, s. 3, for clause
(e) (w.e.f. 28-8-1956).
9. Ins. by Act 1 of 1989, s. 3 (w.e.f. 15-6-1989).
10. Clause
(k) re-lettered as clause
(i) of that section by Act 27 of 1956, s. 3 (w.e.f. 28-8-1956).
11. Clause
(j) omitted by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) order, 1956 (w.e.f. 1-11-1956).
12. Clause
(k) omitted by Act 47 of 1966, s. 15 (w.e.f. 14-12-1966).
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(2) For the purposes of this Act, 1*** a Parliamentary constituency, an Assembly constituency, a
Council constituency, a local authorities’ constituency, a graduates’ constituency and a teachers’
constituency shall each be treated as a constituency of a different class.
(3) Any requirement under this Act that a notification, order, rule, declaration, notice or list issued or
made by any authority shall be published in the Official Gazette, shall, unless otherwise expressly
provided in this Act, be construed as a requirement that the notification, order, rule, declaration, notice or
list shall—
(a) where it is issued or made by the Central Government, be published in the Gazette of India;
(b) where it is issued or made by a State Government, be published in the Official Gazette of the
State; and
(c) where it is issued or made by any other authority, be published in the Gazette of India if it
relates to an election to, or membership of, either House of Parliament 2*** and in the Official
Gazette of the State if it relates to an election to, or membership of, the House or either House of the
Legislature of a State.
(4) Where, under any of the provisions of this Act, anything is to be prescribed, different provisions
may be made for different cases or classes of cases.
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PART II
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[QUALIFICATIONS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS]
CHAPTER I.—Qualifications for Membership of Parliament
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