**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Election Commission of India on June 1, 2026, designates key officials for the upcoming bye-election to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from Odisha. Pursuant to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the document formally appoints a Returning Officer and an Assistant Returning Officer. These appointments are effective immediately to facilitate the election process as per the Commission’s notification dated June 1, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Legal Framework and Authority**
* The appointments are made under Section 21 and sub-section (1) of Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* The notification was issued by the Election Commission in consultation with the Government of the State of Odisha.
* **Officer Designations**
* **Returning Officer:** Shri Satyabrata Rout, Secretary, Odisha Legislative Assembly, is designated as the primary officer for the bye-election.
* **Assistant Returning Officer:** Sri Bidyadhar Majhi, Joint Secretary, Odisha Legislative Assembly, is appointed to assist the Returning Officer.
* **Scope of Responsibilities**
* The designated officers are responsible for the conduct and performance of functions related to the bye-election to the Council of States in Odisha.
* The Assistant Returning Officer is legally mandated to assist the Returning Officer in the performance of his official duties.
**Impact Analysis**
**Shri Satyabrata Rout (Secretary, Odisha Legislative Assembly)**
**Impact**
He is legally designated as the Returning Officer for the bye-election, placing him in charge of the election proceedings for the Council of States from Odisha.
**Action Required**
Must assume the duties of the Returning Officer and oversee the bye-election process in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
**Sri Bidyadhar Majhi (Joint Secretary, Odisha Legislative Assembly)**
**Impact**
He is appointed as the Assistant Returning Officer.
**Action Required**
Must provide administrative and operational assistance to the Returning Officer to ensure the smooth performance of election functions.
**Election Commission of India / Odisha State Government**
**Impact**
The document formalizes the administrative framework required to legally conduct a bye-election in the state.
**Action Required**
Ensure the notification is published in the Gazette of India and that the designated officers are empowered to begin their duties.
Key Entities Referenced
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The primary legislation (specifically Sections 21 and 22) providing the legal authority for the Election Commission to designate election officers.
Election Commission of India: The constitutional body and primary regulator responsible for conducting elections and issuing official notifications for officer appointments.
Council of States (Rajya Sabha): The legislative body for which the bye-election is being conducted in the State of Odisha.
State of Odisha: The specific geographic and administrative jurisdiction where the bye-election and these officer appointments are applicable.
Shri Satyabrata Rout: The Secretary of the Odisha Legislative Assembly designated by the Commission as the Returning Officer for the bye-election.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-01062026-273019
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DL-E-01062026-273019
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 20] िई दिल्ली, सोमर्ार, ििू 1, 2026/ज्य ष्े ठ 11, 1948
No. 20] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026/JYAISHTHA 11, 1948
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
अजधसचू िा
िई दिल्ली, 1 िूि, 2026
आ.अ. 20(अ).— लोक प्रजतजिजधत्र् अजधजियम ्1951 (1951 का 43) की धारा 21 के अिुसरण म ेंऔर धारा 22
की उपधारा (1) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए जिर्ााचि आयोग, ओजडिा राज्य सरकार के परामि ा स ेतारीख 01
िूि, 2026 को राज्य के िासकीय रािपत्र म ें प्रकाजित आयोग की अजधसूचिा के अिुसरण म ें इस राज्य स े राज्य सभा के
जलए होिे र्ाले उप जिर्ााचि के संबंध म ें एततद्वारा-
(।) िीचे की सारणी के स्ट्तम्भ (1) म ेंजर्जिर्िाष्ट अजधकारी को ररटर्ििंग आदिसर के रूप म ेंपिाजभजहत करता ह;ै और
(।।) उि सारणी के स्ट्तम्भ (2) में जर्जिर्िाष्ट अजधकारी को ररटर्ििंग आदिसर की उसके कृत्यों के पालि म ें सहायता
के जलए सहायक ररटर्िगिं आदिसर जियुि करता ह।ै
सारणी
ररटर्िगिं आदिसर के रूप म ेंपिाजभजहत अजधकारी सहायक ररटर्िगिं आदिसर के रूप म ेंजियिु अजधकारी
(1) (2)
श्री सत्यब्रता राउत, सजचर्, ओजडिा जर्धाि सभा श्री जबद्याधर माझी, संयुि सजचर्, ओजडिा जर्धाि सभा
[िा. सं. 100/रा.स.- ओजडिा/04/2026(2)]
आिेि स,े
सुमि कुमार िास, सजचर्
3877 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 1st June, 2026
O.N. 20(E).— In pursuance of Section 21, and in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section
22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951), the Election Commission, in consultation with the
Government of the State of Odisha, hereby-
(i) designates the officer, specified in column (1) of the TABLE below, to be the Returning Officer; and
(ii) appoints the officer, specified in column (2) of the said TABLE, to be the Assistant Returning Officer
to assist the Returning Officer in the performance of his functions;
in respect of the bye-election to the Council of States, to be held in the State in pursuance of the Commission’s
Notification, published in the Gazette of India on 01st June, 2026: -
TABLE
Officer Designated as Officer Appointed as
Returning Officer Assistant Returning Officer
(1) (2)
Shri Satyabrata Rout, Secretary, Odisha Legislative Sri Bidyadhar Majhi, Joint Secretary, Odisha Legislative
Assembly Assembly
[F. No. 100/CS-OD/04/2026 (2)]
By Order,
SUMAN KUMAR DAS, Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.