(1) The Returning Officer shall, with the prior approval of the Chief Election Officer or the Assistant Election Officer, as the case may be, draw and declare a programme of various stages of election, as indicated herein below, not earlier than seven days and not later than fifteen days of the date of display of the final list of voters of the society:—
(i) Last date for making nominations 7 days from the date of declaration of election programme.
(ii) The date of publication of list of nominations received As and when received till the last date fixed for making nominations.
(iii) Date of scrutiny of nominations Next day of the last date for making nominations.
(iv) Date of completion of scrutiny Not later than three days from the date of scrutiny.
(v) Date of publication of list of valid nomination after scrutiny.
Next day after the date of Com completion of Scrutiny.
(vi) Date by which candidature may be withdrawn.
2 days from the date of publication of list of valid nomination.
(vii) Date of publication of final list of Contesting candidates The date next succeeding the last day fixed for withdrawal of candidature.
(viii ) Date and time during which and place/places at which the poll shall be taken Not earlier than 10 days but not later than 15 days from the date of publication of final list of contesting candidates (time and place to be fixed by the Returning Officer)
(ix) Date, time and place for counting of votes Not later than the 3rd day from the date on which the poll shall be taken (time and place to be fixed by the Returning Officer).
(x) Date of declaration of results of votes Immediately after the counting of votes.
Explanation:— (1) If the last date in reckoning dates as specified in the above cases is a public holiday, the next succeeding working day shall be fixed for the respective events.
(2) The proportion of polling stations to the number of voters at each polling station and the place of polling station shall be fixed in consultation with the society concerned. In case the polling stations are spread over either the district, town or villages in the district, the Assistant Election Officer shall make arrangements to get all the ballot boxes to the office of the Returning Officer or to the registered office of the society or to such other safe place or places as he deems fit.