Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, The election to fill five Rajya Sabha seats from Punjab would be held on March 21.
the members whose term is expiring next month include Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Naresh Gujral from Akali Dal, Avinash Rai Khanna from BJP and Manohar Singh Gill and Ashwani Kumar from the Congress.
The last date of filing nominations would be March 11 with scrutiny on March 12 and March 14 being the last date of withdrawal.
The Term of office of 5 members of the Rajya Sabha elected from the State of Punjab is due to expire on their retirement in the month of April, 2016 as detailed below :-
Sr. No. Name of the Member Date of retirement Remarks
1. Shri Ashwani Kumar 09.04.2016 One separate election for these 3 seats
2. Shri Avinash Rai Khanna 09.04.2016
3. Shri Sukhdev Singh 09.04.2016
1. Shri Manohar Singh 09.04.2016 One separate election for these 2 seats
2. Shri Naresh Gujral 09.04.2016
The above mentioned five seats belong to two different biennial cycles. As directed by the Election Commission of India the term of office of the members to be elected to the Council of States from the State of Punjab shall be subject to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in SLP (C) No. 17123 of 2015 Election Commission of India Vs Devesh Chandra Thakur & Others.
The Election Commission of India has decided that the aforesaid biennial Elections to the Council of States from the State of Punjab shall be held in accordance with the following programme :-
1. Issue of Notifications : 04.03.2016 (Friday)
2. Last date of making nominations : 11.03.2016 (Friday)
3. Scrutiny of nominations : 12.03.2016 (Saturday)
4. Last date for withdrawal of candidatures : 14.03.2016 (Monday)
5. Date of poll : 21.03.2016 (Monday)
6. Hours of Poll 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
7. Counting of votes : 21.03.2016 at 5:00 PM
8. Date before which election shall be completed : 23.03.2016 (Wednesday)
Nomination Papers are to be filed with the Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Chandigarh who is the Returning Officer for Rajya Sabha Election, between the hours of 11 O’clock in the forenoon and 3 O’clock in the afternoon on any day other than a public holiday from 4.03.2016 to 11.03.2016.
The nomination papers are to be filed in Form 2C. Blank forms are available with the Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Typed nomination papers will also be accepted provided the Forms are in the prescribed format.
In order to qualify for member of the Council of States a candidate should be registered as an elector for any Parliamentary Constituency in India. To satisfy the concerned Returning Officer on this point, candidates should produce a certified copy of the relevant entry of the electoral roll in force.
A candidate is also required to make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation in the prescribed form before the concerned Returning Officer or any other person so authorized by the Election Commission of India. The oath/affirmation will be taken/made by a candidate after his nomination paper has been filed and before the date fixed for the scrutiny of nominations.
5th March, 2016 being a Saturday is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; therefore, nomination papers can be presented to the Returning Officer on that day.
6th March, 2016 being a Sunday is a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; therefore, nomination papers cannot be presented to the Returning Officer on that day.
7th March, 2016 being a Maha Shivaratri is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; therefore, nomination papers can be presented to the Returning Officer on that day.
12th March, 2016 being a Saturday is not a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881; therefore, Scrutiny of nominations should be done by the Returning Officer on that day.
