(1) On the date fixed for the scrutiny of nominations under rule 20, the candidate, one proposer and one other person duly authorized in writing by the candidate, but no other person, may attend at such time and place as the Returning Officer may appoint; and all reasonable facilities shall be given to them for examining the nomination papers of all candidates whose names are included in the list of candidates posted under rule 26.
(2) The Returning Officer shall them examine the nomination papers and shall decide all objections which may be made to any nomination and may, either on such objection or on his own motion, after such summary inquiry, if any, as he may deem necessary, reject any nomination if he is satisfied that-
(a) the candidate was on the date fixed for the nomination of candidates ineligible for election under the provisions of rule 21 or of any other rules or of the Act or of any other Act had not, before that date, been exempted by the State Government from any disqualification imposed upon him;
(b) the proposer was not qualified to subscribe the nomination paper under these rules;
(c) there has been any failure to comply with any of the provisions of rule 23 or rule 24;
(d) the candidate or any proposer is not identical with the person whose number on the roll is given in the nomination paper as the number of such candidate or proposer, as the case may be; and
(e) the signatures of any candidate or of any proposer are not genuine or has been obtained by force or by fraud.
(3) Nothing contained in clauses (b), (c) or (e) of sub-rule (2) shall be deemed to authorise the rejection of the nomination of any candidate on the ground of any irregularity in respect of a nomination paper if the candidate has been duly nominated by means of another nomination paper in respect of which no irregularity has been committed.
(4) No nomination shall be rejected under clause (d) of sub-rule (2) if a summary enquiry is sufficient to establish the identity of the candidate or the proposer.
(5) The Returning Officer shall endorse on each nomination paper his decision accepting or rejecting it. In case a nomination paper is rejected he shall record in writing a brief statement of his reasons for such rejection. An attested copy of the decision accepting or rejecting a nomination paper shall be supplied by the Returning Officer on the same day on an application having been made in this behalf by a person who is entitled to be present at the time of scrutiny of nomination papers.
(6) Omitted.
(7) Omitted
(8) Immediately after all the nomination papers have been scrutinized and decisions accepting or rejecting the same have been recorded, the Returning Officer shall prepare a list of validly nominated candidates that is to say candidates whose nominations have been found valid and affix it to his notice board.