**Executive Summary**
This document is an order from the Election Commission of India disqualifying Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S from being a member of Parliament or a State/Union Territory Legislative Assembly/Council for three years, effective October 7, 2025. This decision is based on his failure to submit his election expense report for the 2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election and not providing sufficient justification for failing to do so. The order references Representation of the People Act, 1951, along with related regulations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Background:**
* General Election to Legislative Assembly, 2023 for 106- Davangere North Assembly Constituency of Karnataka was held on April 13, 2023.
* The result of the election was declared on May 13, 2023, making the last date for lodging the account of Election Expenses June 12th, 2023.
* **Violation:**
* Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S, a contesting candidate, failed to lodge the required election expense report, violating Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
* The District Election Officer issued a show-cause notice on September 20, 2024, requesting an explanation for the missing report.
* **Response:**
* Sh. Keerthi Kumar K.S. did not submit a representation or a statement of account of election expenses.
* The show-cause notice was pasted on the wall of his house on November 27, 2024 as he was not residing at his given address.
* **Disqualification:**
* The Election Commission found that Sh. Keerthi Kumar K.S. failed to lodge the account of election expenses and had no good reason or justification for the failure.
* Per Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S is disqualified for three years, effective October 7, 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Sh. Keerthi Kumar K.S**
* **Impact:** Disqualification from being chosen as, or being, a member of either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State or Union Territory for three years.
* **Action Required:** No specific action is required in the document other than adhering to the disqualification.
**Election Commission of India (ECI)**
* **Impact:** The ECI has completed the process of addressing the violation of election expense reporting requirements.
* **Action Required:** The ECI must ensure the order is enforced and the disqualification is reflected in relevant electoral records.
**Citizens/Voters of India**
* **Impact:** Increased transparency and enforcement of election regulations.
* **Action Required:** No action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The law under which Keerthi Kumar K.S. is disqualified for failing to lodge election expenses.
Election Commission of India: The regulator disqualifying Keerthi Kumar K.S. for failing to submit election expenses as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Keerthi Kumar K.S.: The candidate disqualified for failing to lodge election expenses for the 106- Davangere North Assembly Constituency election.
Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961: Rules followed when addressing Keerthi Kumar K.S regarding the issue of not submitting election expenses.
Davangere: District where Keerthi Kumar K.S failed to lodge his election expenses, leading to his disqualification.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-07102025-266721
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CG-DL-E-07102025-266721
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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.ं 48] िई ददल्ली, मगं लर्ार, अक्त बू र 7, 2025/आजर् ि 15, 1947
No. 48] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025/ASVINA 15, 1947
भारत जिर्ाचा ि आयोग
आदेि
िई ददल्ली, 9 जसतम्बर, 2025
आ. अ. 48(अ).— यतः, भारत जिर्ााचि आयोग की अजधसचू िा सं. 464/केटी -एलए/2023 ददिांक 13 अप्रलै ,
2023 के अिुसरण म ें 106- दार्न्गरे े उत्तर जर्धाि सभा जिर्ााचि क्षेत्र के जलए किााटक जर्धाि सभा का साधारण
जिर्ााचि, 2023 आयोजित दकया गया था; और
यत:, लोक प्रजतजिजधत्र् अजधजियम, 1951 की धारा 78 के अिुसार, दकसी भी जिर्ााचि म ें जिर्ााचि लड़ि े र्ाला
प्रत्येक अभ्यथी, जिर्ााजचत अभ्यथी के जिर्ााचि की तारीख से 30 ददिों के भीतर अपि े जिर्ााचि व्यय के लेखे जिला
जिर्ााचि अजधकारी के पास दाजखल करेगा िो उक्त अजधजियम की धारा 77 के अन्तगता उसके द्वारा या उसके जिर्ााचि
अजभकताा द्वारा रखे गए लेखे की एक सत्य प्रजत होगी; और
यतः, किााटक के 106- दार्न्गरे े उत्तर जर्धािसभा जिर्ााचि क्षेत्र के जलए जिर्ााचि, 2023 का पररणाम, ररटर्ििंग
अजधकारी द्वारा 13 मई, 2023 को घोजित दकया गया था और इस प्रकार जिर्ााचि व्यय के लेखे दाजखल करिे की अजन्तम
तारीख 12 िूि, 2023 थी; और
यतः, जिर्ााचिों का संचालि जियम, 1961 के जियम 89 के उप-जियम (1) के अंतगात, मुख्य जिर्ााचि अजधकारी,
किााटक से उिके ददिांक 13.08.2024 के पत्र स.ं DPAR/08/Chuvebha(Addl CEO-1)2023; के तहत प्राप्त जिला
जिर्ााचि अजधकारी, दार्न्गरे े की ररपोटा ददिांक 05.08.2024 के अिुसार, श्री कीथी कुमार. के.एस, िो किााटक के 106-
दार्न्गरे े उत्तर जर्धािसभा जिर्ााचि क्षेत्र, 2023 स े जिर्ााचि लड़ि े र्ाल े अभ्यथी ह,ैं जर्जध के अतं गता यथापेजक्षत रीजत स े
अपि ेजिर्ााचि व्यय के लेखे दाजखल करिे म ेंअसफल रह ेह;ैं और
6693 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
यतः, जिला जिर्ााचि अजधकारी, दार्न्गरे े की उक्त ररपोटा के आधार पर, भारत जिर्ााचि आयोग द्वारा जिर्ााचिों
का संचालि जियम, 1961 के जियम 89 के उप-जियम (5) के अंतगता श्री कीथी कुमार. के.एस को अपिे जिर्ााचि व्यय के
लेखे प्रस्ट्तुत िहीं करि े के जलए कारण बताओ िोरटस सं. 76/केटी-एलए/34/2023/सीईएमएस-II, ददिांक 20 जसतंबर,
2024 को िारी दकया गया था; और
यत:, उपयुाक्त उक्त कारण बताओ िोरटस के िररए और जिर्ााचिों का संचालि जियम, 1961 के जियम 89 के
उप-जियम (6) के अतं गता , श्री कीथी कुमार. के.एस को लेखा दाजखल ि दकए िाि े संबंधी कारणों को स्ट् पष्ट करत े हुए
आयोग को अपिा अभ् यार्ेदि जलजखत रूप म ें प्रस्ट्त ुत करि े और िोरटस के प्राप् त होिे की तारीख से 20 ददिों के भीतर जिला
जिर्ााचि अजधकारी, दार्न्गरे े जिला को अपि ेजिर्ााचि व्यय के लेखे प्रस्ट् ततु करिे का जिदेि ददया गया था; और
यत:, जिला जिर्ााचि अजधकारी, दार्न्गरे े ि े अपिी ररपोटा सं. ELNCR/57/2024-25 ददिाकं 28.03.2025 म ें
सूजचत दकया ह ै दक उम्मीदर्ार का ददए गए पत े पर जिर्ास िहीं था और उसका पता भी ज्ञात िही था, इसजलए उक्त
कारण बताओ िोरटस श्री कीथी कुमार. के.एस के घर की दीर्ार पर ददिांक 27.11.2024 को जचपकाया गया था और
महािर ररपोटा तैयार की गई; और
यत:, जिला जिर्ााचि अजधकारी, दार्न्गरे े ि े अपिी अिपु ूरक ररपोटा सं. ELNCR/57/2024-25 ददिांक
03.07.2025 िोदक मुख्य जिर्ााचि अजधकारी, किााटक के पत्र सं. DPAR/08/Chuvebha(Addl. CEO-1)2023;
ददिांक 10.07.2025; द्वारा प्राप्त हुई ह,ै उसमें सूजचत दकया ह ै दक श्री कीथी कुमार. के.एस िे जिर्ााचि व्यय के लेखे का
कोई जर्र्रण या अभ्यार्ेदि प्रस्ट्तुत िहीं दकया ह।ै इसके अजतररक्त, उक्त िोरटस जमलि े के उपरांत, श्री कीथी कुमार. के.एस
िे जर्जध के अतं गता यथा-जर्जहत लेख े दाजखल करिे म ें अपिी असफलता के जलए भारत जिर्ााचि आयोग को ि तो कोई
कारण बताया ह ैऔर ि ही कोई स्ट्पष्टीकरण ददया है; और
यत:, लोक प्रजतजिजधत्र् अजधजियम, 1951 की धारा 10क में यह उपबंजधत दकया गया ह ैदक:-
‘‘यदद जिर्ााचि आयोग का समाधाि हो िाता ह ैदक कोई व् यजक्त-
(क) जिर्ााचि व्ययों का लेखा उस समय के भीतर और उस रीजत म ें िैसी इस अजधजियम के द्वारा या अधीि अपेजक्षत
ह ै,दाजखल करि ेम ेंअसफल रहा ह;ै तथा
(ख) उस असफलता के जलए कोई अच्छा कारण या न्यायोजचत्य िहीं रखता ह, ै
तो जिर्ााचि आयोग िासकीय रािपत्र म ेंप्रकाजित आदिे द्वारा उसको जिरर्हता घोजित करेगा और ऐसा व् यजक्त उस आदिे
की तारीख से तीि र्िा की कालार्जध के जलए जिरर्हता होगा।";
यत:, तथ्यों और उपलब्ध ररकाडों के आधार पर, आयोग का यह समाधाि हो गया ह ै दक श्री कीथी कुमार. के.एस
अपि े जिर्ााचि व् यय के लेख े दाजखल करिे म ें असफल रह े ह ैं और उिके पास ऐसा करि े म ें असफल रहि े के जलए कोई भी
उजचत कारण अथर्ा औजचत् य िहीं ह;ै और
अत:, अब, लोक प्रजतजिजधत्र् अजधजियम, 1951 की धारा 10क के अिुसरण में, भारत जिर्ााचि आयोग एतद्द्वारा
घोिणा करता ह ै दक किााटक के 106- दार्न्गरे े उत्तर जर्धािसभा जिर्ााचि क्षेत्र के जलए साधारण जिर्ााचि, 2023 म ें
जिर्ााचि लड़ि े र्ाल े अभ् यथी, श्री कीथी कुमार. के.एस, जिर्ासी- # 1325, 2nd स्ट्टेि, एस.पी. एस िगर, दार्न्गरे े -
577006, इस आदेि की तारीख स े तीि र्ि ा की अर्जध के जलए संसद के दकसी भी सदि अथर्ा राज्य अथर्ा संघ राज्य
क्षेत्र की जर्धाि सभा अथर्ा जर्धाि पररिद का सदस्ट् य चुि े िािे अथर्ा होिे के जलए जिरर्हता होंगे।
[फा. सं. 76/केटी-एलए/34/2023/सीईएमएस- II]
राकेि कुमार, सजचर्[भाग II—खण् ड 3(iii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
ORDER
New Delhi, the 9th September, 2025
O.N. 48 (E).— WHEREAS, the General Election to Legislative Assembly, 2023 for 106-
Davangere North Assembly Constituency of Karnataka was held in pursuance of the Election Commission
of India Notification No. 464/KT-LA/2023, dated 13th April, 2023; and
WHEREAS, as per Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every contesting
candidate at an election shall, within 30 days from the date of election of the returned candidate, lodge with
the District Election Officer an account of his/her election expenses which shall be a true copy of the
account kept by him/her or his/her election agent under Section 77 of the said act; and
WHEREAS, the result of the election for 106- Davangere North Assembly Constituency of
Karnataka, 2023 was declared by the Returning Officer on 13th May, 2023 and hence the last date for
lodging the account of Election Expenses was 12th June, 2023; and
WHEREAS, as per the report dated 05.08.2024 of District Election Officer, Davangere under sub-
rule (1) of Rule 89 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 received through the Chief Electoral Officer,
Karnataka vide his letter no. DPAR/08/Chuvebha(Addl CEO-1)2023; dated 13.08.2024 stating that Sh.
Keerthi Kumar. K.S, a contesting candidate from 106- Davangere North Assembly Constituency in
General Election to Legislative Assembly of Karnataka, 2023 has failed to lodge the account of his election
expenses, as required under law; and
WHEREAS, on basis of the said report of the District Election Officer, Davangere a ‘Show Cause
Notice’ No. 76/KT-LA/34/2023/CEMS-II, dated 20th September, 2024 was issued under sub rule (5) of
Rule 89 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 by the Election Commission of India to Sh. Keerthi
Kumar. K.S, for not lodging of the account of Election Expenses; and
WHEREAS, through the above said ‘Show Cause Notice’ and under sub rule (6) of Rule 89 of the
Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S was directed to submit representation in
writing to the Commission explaining the reasons for not lodging the account and also to lodge the account
of his election expenses with the District Election Officer, Davangere District within 20 days from the
date of receipt of the notice; and
WHEREAS, the District Election Officer, Davangere in his report no. ELNCR/57/2024-25; dated
28.03.2025 has reported that the candidate Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S. was not residing in the given address
and his whereabouts was not known, hence the said ‘Show Cause Notice’ was pasted on the wall of the
house and a mahazar was prepared 27.11.2024; and
WHEREAS, the District Election Officer, Davangere in his Supplementary Report no.
ELNCR/57/2024-25; dated 03.07.2025 on account of the candidate, received through Chief Electoral
Officer, Karnataka letter No. DPAR/08/Chuvebha (Addl.CEO-1) 2023; dated 10.07.2025 has reported that
Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S has not submitted any representation or statement of account of election
expenses. Further, after receipt of the said notice, Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S has neither furnished any
reason nor explanation to the Election Commission of India for failure to lodge the account of his election
expenses as prescribed under law; and
WHEREAS, Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides that:-
“If the Election Commission is satisfied that a person-
(a) has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by or
under this Act, and
(b) has no good reason or justification for the failure,
the Election Commission shall, by order published in the Official Gazette, declare him to be disqualified
and any such person shall be disqualified for a period of three years from the date of the order.”;
WHEREAS, on basis of the facts and available records, the Commission is satisfied that Sh.
Keerthi Kumar. K.S has failed to lodge the account of his election expenses and has no good reason or
justification for the failure to do so; and4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,
the Election Commission of India hereby declares Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S, resident of # 1325, 2nd Stage,
S.P.S Nagara, Davanagere- 577006 and a contesting candidate from 106- Davangere North Assembly
Constituency of Karnataka in General Election to Legislative assembly, 2021, to be disqualified for being
chosen as and for being a member of either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assembly or the
Legislative Council of a State or Union Territory for a period of three years from the date of this order.
[F. No. 76/KT-LA/34/2023/CEMS-II]
RAKESH KUMAR, 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.