Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) If any person in official duty in con nection with a Panchayat election to whom this Act applies is without reasonable cause guilty of any act or omission in breach of his official duty, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. An offence punishable under this section shall be cognizable and bailable: Provided tha t no suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against any such person for damages in respect of any such act or omission as aforesaid. (2) The perso n to whom this section applies are the Returnin g Officer, Assistant Returning Officer, Presiding Officer, Polling Officer and any other person appointed to pe rform any duty in conn ectio n with the receipt of nominations or withdraw al of candidature or recording or coun tin g of votes at the Pa nchayat Electio n and the expression 'Official duty’ shall for the purposes of this section be construed accordingly, but shall not include duties imposed otherwise than by or under this Act. Penalty for Government servants for acting as election agent or counting agent. 1 i ■ C ijSM