(1) A petition calling in question any election may be presented on one or more of the grounds specified in sub-section (J) of section 32 to the Election Commission by any candidate at such election, or—
(i)( m the case of a Presidential election, by twenty or more electors joined together as petitioners;
(li) in the case of a Vice-Presidential election, by ten o* more electors joined together as petitioners.
Explanation.—In this sub-section, "elector" means a person who was entitled to vote at the election to which the petition relates, whether he has voted at such election or not.
(2) Any such petition may be presented at any time after the date of publication of the declaration containing the name of the returned candidate at the election under section 12 but not later than thirty days from the date of such publication.
Council to exercise functions notwithstanding vacancies, Fresh trla:
not neces sary upon filling up of a casual vacancy in the Council Acts or proceedings of a Council not to be Invalidated.
Presentation of petition.
46 THE GAZETTE Of I^DIA Jfî TRAORPINARY [PART I I - Fartles to the petition Contents of petition
(3) A petition shall be deemed to have been presented to the Election Commission when it is delivered to the Election Commission or to such other officer as may be appointed by it in this behalf—
(i) by the person making the petition, or
(w) by a person authorised in writing in this behalf by the person making the petition,
(4) Every petition shall be accompanied by as many copies thereof as there are respondents mentioned m the petition and one more copy for the use of the Election Commission, and every such copy shall be attested by the petitioner under his own signature to be a true copy of the petition
(5) At the time of presenting a petition the petitioner shall deposit with the Election Commission in such manner as may be prescribed a sum of two thousand rupees as security for costs.
(6), The Council trying a petition may at any time during the course of the trial of the petition call upon the petitioner to give such further security for costs as it may direct.
(7) No person shall be entitled to be joined as a respondent to a petition under sub-section (3) of section 24 unless he has given such security for costs as the Council may direct
20. A petitioner shall join as respondent to his petition the returned candidate.