**Executive Summary**
This notification issued by the Election Commission of India on July 7, 2026, announces the appointment of key electoral officers for three upcoming bye-elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from West Bengal. In accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Commission has designated a Returning Officer and an Assistant Returning Officer to oversee the proceedings. These appointments are effective immediately to facilitate the election process as per the notification published on the same date.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Legal Authority and Context**
* The appointments are made under Section 21 and sub-section (1) of Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* The decision was reached by the Election Commission in consultation with the Government of the State of West Bengal.
* The appointments pertain specifically to three separate bye-elections to the Council of States within the state.
**Official Designations**
* **Returning Officer:** Shri Soumendra Nath Das, Principal Secretary of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, is designated to lead the election proceedings.
* **Assistant Returning Officer:** Shri Santanu Das, Joint Secretary of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, is appointed to support the Returning Officer.
* The Assistant Returning Officer is mandated to assist the Returning Officer in the performance of all official functions related to the bye-elections.
**Impact Analysis**
**Shri Soumendra Nath Das (Principal Secretary, West Bengal Legislative Assembly)**
**Impact**
He is legally designated as the Returning Officer for three separate bye-elections to the Council of States.
**Action Required**
He must take charge of the election process and fulfill all statutory duties and functions required of a Returning Officer as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
**Shri Santanu Das (Joint Secretary, West Bengal Legislative Assembly)**
**Impact**
He is officially appointed as the Assistant Returning Officer for the specified bye-elections.
**Action Required**
He must provide necessary assistance to the Returning Officer in the execution of election-related tasks and responsibilities.
**West Bengal Legislative Assembly / State Government**
**Impact**
Senior administrative officials are diverted to federal electoral duties for the Rajya Sabha bye-elections.
**Action Required**
The administration must ensure that the designated officers are available to conduct the three separate bye-elections in accordance with the Commission’s notification dated July 7, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The primary legislation under which the Election Commission exercises powers to designate and appoint election officers.
Election Commission of India: The constitutional body responsible for administering election processes, which issued this notification regarding officer appointments.
Council of States: Also known as the Rajya Sabha, the parliamentary body for which three separate bye-elections are being conducted in West Bengal.
West Bengal: The Indian state where the bye-elections are taking place and to which the scope of this notification is limited.
Shri Soumendra Nath Das: Principal Secretary of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, designated as the Returning Officer for the bye-elections.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
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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.ं 31] िई दिल्ली, मगं लर्ार, िुलाई 7, 2026/आषाढ 16, 1948
No. 31] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026/ASHADHA 16, 1948
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
अजधसचू िा
िई दिल्ली, 7 िुलाई, 2026
आ.अ. 31(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 करत ेहुए जिर्ाचा ि आयोग, पजिम बगं ाल राज्य सरकार के परामि ास ेएतद्द्वारा
तारीख 07 िलु ाई, 2026 को राज्य के िासकीय रािपत्र म ें प्रकाजित आयोग की अजधसूचिा के अिुसरण म ें इस राज्य स े
राज्य सभा के जलए होिे र्ाले तीि पृथक उप जिर्ााचिों के संबंध म ें एततद्वारा-
(।) िीच ेकी सारणी के स्ट्तम्भ (1) म ेंजर्जिर्िाष्ट अजधकारी को ररटर्ििंग आदिसर के रूप म ेंपिाजभजहत करता है; 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 सौमेन्द्र िाथ िास, प्रधाि सजचर्, पजिम बगं ाल जर्धाि श्री िांति ु िास, संयिु सजचर्, पजिम बंगाल जर्धाि
सभा सभा
[िा.सं.- 100/रा.स- पजिम बगं ाल/05-07/2026(2)]
आिेि स,े
सुमि कुमार िास, सजचर्
5070 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th July, 2026
O.N. 31(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 West Bengal, 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 three separate bye-elections 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 07th July, 2026: -
TABLE
Officer Designated as Officer Appointed as
Returning Officer Assistant Returning Officer
(1) (2)
Shri Soumendra Nath Das, Principal Secretary, West Shri Santanu Das, Joint Secretary, West Bengal
Bengal Legislative Assembly Legislative Assembly
[F.No.- 100/CS-WB/05-07/2026 (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.