(1) The State Election Commissioner, Haryana shall frame a programme for elections hereinafter referred to as the “election programme” of a committee.
(2) The election programme shall be published at least five clear days before the first day fixed for making nominations and shall specify the date or dates, on, by or within which;
(i) the nomination papers shall be presented;
Provided that a period of not less than five days shall be prescribed for presentation of nomination papers.
(ii) the list of nomination papers shall be posted;
(iii) the nomination papers shall be scrutinised;
(iv) Omitted;
(v) Omitted;
(vi) a candidate may withdraw his candidature;
(vii) the list of contesting candidates shall be posted;
(viii) the list of polling stations shall be posted;
(ix) the poll shall be held;
Provided that the date of poll shall not be earlier than the seventh day after the last date fixed for the withdrawal of candidatures:
(x) the ballot papers shall be counted (here time and place fixed for the purpose shall also be specified); and
(xi) the result of election shall be declared.
(3) The State Election Commissioner, Haryana shall authorise the Deputy Commissioner to designate a Returning Officer who shall be an officer of the Government for every committee:
Provided that nothing in this rule shall prevent the Deputy Commissioner from designating the same person to be the Returning Officer for more than one committee;
(4) The Deputy Commissioner may appoint one or more Assistant Returning Officers in the performance of his functions.
(5) Every Assistant Returning Officer shall, subject to the control of Returning Officer, be competent to perform all or any of the functions of the Returning Officer:
Provided that no Assistant Returning Officer shall perform any of the functions of the Returning Officer which relate to the scrutiny of nominations unless the Returning Officer is unavoidably prevented from performing the said functions.
(6) The election programme shall be published at least five clear days before the first date for making nominations, by posting a copy of it at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, at the office of the committee concerned and at such other conspicuous places in the said committee as may be determined by the Deputy Commissioner in this behalf. The last dates for making nomination papers, their scrutiny and withdrawal shall not be public holidays. If any of the last dates for these purposes happens to be a public holiday such nominations, scrutiny and withdrawal shall take place the next succeeding day, which is not a public holiday.
(7) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (6), the State Election Commissioner, Haryana may, by an order amend, vary or modify the election programme at any time:
Provided that unless the State Election Commissioner, Haryana otherwise directs, no such order shall be deemed to invalidate any proceedings already taken before the date of the order.