## Report on Election Commission of India Order Regarding Disqualification of Candidate
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes an order issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) concerning the disqualification of Sh. Raghunandan Sahu, a candidate from the Janta Dal United, who contested in the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Chhattisgarh, 2018, from the 57 Kurud Constituency. The order, published in the Gazette of India on December 4, 2021, disqualifies Sh. Sahu for three years due to his failure to lodge his account of election expenses as required by law, according to Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The key finding is the ECI's enforcement of election expense reporting requirements and the consequences of non-compliance.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide a detailed overview of an order issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the disqualification of a candidate in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election. This analysis is based solely on the provided policy text published in the Gazette of India.
**3. Policy Overview:**
This is a *new* policy action enforcing existing laws regarding election expenses.
* **Core Objective(s):** The core objective, inferred from the text, is to enforce compliance with Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which mandates the timely submission of election expense accounts by candidates. This action also serves to uphold the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring transparency in campaign finance.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
The policy addresses the issue of non-compliance with election expense reporting requirements. Sh. Raghunandan Sahu failed to submit his account of election expenses within the stipulated timeframe, despite reminders and a show-cause notice. The ECI, acting on reports from the District Election Officer and the Chief Electoral Officer of Chhattisgarh, determined that Sh. Sahu lacked a valid justification for his failure. This enforcement action seeks to deter future violations and maintain fairness in elections.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
As this is not an amendment, but a specific action enforcing an existing law, the key provision is the disqualification of Sh. Raghunandan Sahu.
* The ECI, invoking Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, declares Sh. Raghunandan Sahu to be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of either House of Parliament or the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State or Union Territory for a period of three years from the date of the order (December 2, 2021).
* This disqualification is a direct consequence of Sh. Sahu's failure to lodge his account of election expenses and his inability to provide a satisfactory explanation for this omission.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The immediate target is Sh. Raghunandan Sahu, who is directly affected by the disqualification. More broadly, the policy affects all contesting candidates in elections, particularly in Chhattisgarh, serving as a reminder of the importance of adhering to election expense reporting regulations. Election officials, political parties, and voters are also stakeholders, as the policy reinforces the integrity of the electoral process.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Election Commission of India is the primary responsible agency. The District Election Officer and Chief Electoral Officer of Chhattisgarh played a crucial role in reporting the violation.
* **Timelines and Procedures:** The order references specific timelines outlined in the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, related to expense reporting and notification procedures. The process involved issuing a show-cause notice, providing an opportunity for explanation, and reviewing submitted reports.
* There is no need to make timelines about an amendment since this is not an amendment.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The intended outcome of this action is to:
* Ensure compliance with election expense reporting requirements, reinforcing financial transparency in elections.
* Deter future violations by sending a clear message that non-compliance will be penalized.
* Maintain the integrity and fairness of the electoral process, fostering public trust in democratic institutions.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Election Commission of India's order disqualifying Sh. Raghunandan Sahu underscores the importance of adhering to election expense reporting regulations. This action demonstrates the ECI's commitment to enforcing electoral laws and ensuring the integrity of the democratic process. The disqualification serves as a significant deterrent for candidates who may consider neglecting their financial reporting obligations, ultimately contributing to a more transparent and accountable electoral system.
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India: The central authority issuing the order regarding disqualification due to election expense non-compliance.
New Delhi: Location where the order was issued by the Election Commission of India.
Chhattisgarh: State where the General Election to Legislative Assembly took place in 2018 and the location of the concerned candidate and constituencies.
Representation of the People Act, 1951: The act under which candidates are required to lodge their election expenses and the legal basis for disqualification.
District Election Officer, Dhamtari District: The election officer who reported the failure of the candidate to lodge his account of election expenses.
Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh: Official who forwarded the report regarding the candidate's failure to lodge election expenses.
Raghunandan Sahu: The contesting candidate of Janta Dal United who was disqualified for failing to lodge his account of election expenses.
Janta Dal United: The political party of the disqualified candidate, Raghunandan Sahu.
57 Kurud Constituency: The Assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh from which Raghunandan Sahu contested the election.
Conduct of Election Rules, 1961: The set of rules under which a show cause notice was issued to Raghunandan Sahu.
VillGujera, PostMaaro, Dist Bemetara, Chhattisgarh: The address of the disqualified candidate, Raghunandan Sahu.
Narendra N. Butolia: Sr. Principal Secretary of Election commission of india
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल. (एन) 04/0007/2003—05 REGD. NO. D. L. (N) 04/0007/2003—05
सी.जी.-डी.एxलxx.-GसIDा.H-0x7xx1 22021-231667
CG-DxLx-xWG-I0D7E1x2x2x0 21-231667
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
साप्त ाजहक
WEEKLY
स.ं 26] नइ ददल्ल ी, नवम् बर 28—ददसम्बर 4, 2021, िजनवार /ऄग्रहायण 7—ऄग्रहायण 13, 1943
No. 26] NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 4, 2021, SATURDAY/AGRAHAYANA 7-AGRAHAYANA 13, 1943
आस भाग म ेंजभन्न ृ्ृ स्ं य ा दी िाती ह ैजिसस ेदक यह ृथृ क सकं लन के रूृ म ेंरखा िा सके
Separate Paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation
भाग II—खण्ड 3—ईृ-खण्ड (iii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii)
केन्र ीय ऄजधकाररयों (सघं राज्य क्षे्र े प्रिासनों क ो ़ककर) ्ारा िारी दकए गए साधारण अदिे रर ऄजधसनू नाएं
Orders and Notifications issued by the Central Authorities (Other than the Administrations of Union
Territories)
भारत जनवाना न अय ग
अदेि
नइ ददल् ली, 2 ददसम्बर, 2021
अ.ऄ. 297.—यतः भारत जनवाानन अय ग ्ारा ोत्तीसगढ़ राज्य स े जवधान सभा का साधारण जनवाानन 2018
की घ षणा प्रेस न ट स्ं या इसीअइ/प्र.ेन ./66/2018 ददनांक 6 ऄक्टूबर, 2018 के िररए की गइ थी। कायाक्रम के
ऄनुसार, मतगणना की तारीख 11 ददसम्बर, 2018 थी ।
रर यतः, ल क प्रजतजनजधत्व ऄजधजनयम, 1951 की धारा 78 के ऄनुसार, जनवाानन लडन े वाले प्रत्येक ऄभ्यथी
क , जनवााजनत ऄभ्यथी के जनवाानन की तारीख स े 30 ददनों के भीतर जनवाानन व्यय के ऄृने लेख े की सही प्रजत जिला
जनवाानन ऄजधकारी क दाजखल करनी ह ती ह ै
6712 GI/2021 (651)652 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : DECEMBER 4, 2021/AGRAHAYANA 13, 1943 [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
रर यतः, 57-कुरुद जवधान सभा जनवाानन क्षे्र े सजहत संबंजधत ररटर्ननग ऄजधकारी ्ारा ईक्त जनवाानन के
ृररणाम 11 ददसम्बर, 2018 क घ जषत दकए गए थे। आस प्रकार, जनवाानन व्यय के लेखे दाजखल करने की ऄंजतम तारीख
10 िनवरी, 2019 थीः
रर यतः, जिला जनवाानन ऄजधकारी, धमतरी, ोत्तीसगढ़ ्ारा प्रस्ट्ततु रर मु्य जनवाानन ऄजधकारी, ोत्तीसगढ़
्ारा ऄृन े ददनांक 29 िनवरी, 2019 के ृ्र स.ं 21/नार/जव.स.न.ु/इ.इ.एम/2019/85 के िररए ऄग्रेजषत ददनाकं
10 िनवरी, 2019 की ररृ ट ा के ऄनुसार श्री रघनु दं न साहू ि ोत्तीसगढ़ के 57-कुरुद जवधान सभा जनवाानन क्षे्र े स े
जनवाानन लडने वाले िनता दल (यनू ाआटेड) के ऄभ्यथी ह,ैं जवजध ्ारा यथाृेजक्षेत रीजत स े ऄृने जनवाानन व्यय का क इ भी
लेखा दाजखल करन े म ें जवफल रह े ह ै ।
रर यतः, जिला जनवाानन ऄजधकारी, धमतरी, ोत्तीसगढ़ रर मु्य जनवाानन ऄजधकारी, ोत्तीसगढ़ की ररृ ट ा के
अधार ृर जनवाानन अय ग ्ारा जनवााननों का संनालन जनयम 1961 के जनयम 89 के ईृ जनयम (5) के ऄंतगात जनवाानन
व्यय प्रस्ट्तुत नहीं करने के जलए श्री रघनु दं न साहू क कारण बताओ न रटस ददनांक 02 मान,ा 2021 क िारी दकया गया
थाः
रर यतः, जनवााननों का संनालन जनयम 1961 के जनयम 89 के ईृ-जनयम (6) के ऄनुसार, ददनांक 02 मान,ा
2021 के ईृयुक्त कारण बताओ न रटस के िररए श्री रघनु दं न साहू क जनदेि ददया गया था दक वे आस न रटस के प्राप्त ह ने
के 20 ददनों के ऄंदर लेख े न प्रस्ट्तुत कर ृान े के कारणों क स्ट्ृष्ट करत े हुए जलजखत रूृ म ें ऄृना ऄभ्यावेदन प्रस्ट्ततु करें रर
साथ ही, जनवाानन व्यय का ऄृना लेखा दाजखल करेः
रर यतः, ईक्त न रटस श्री रघनु दं न साहू ्ारा ददय े गय े ृत े ृर ददनांक 05 िलु ाइ, 2021 क नस्ट्ृा करा ददया
गया था। ृावती रसीद जिला जनवाानन ऄजधकारी, धमतरी ्ारा ऄृन े ददनांक 05 िलु ाइ 2021 के ृ्र स0ं
329/सा.जनवा.ा /34-व्यय लेखा/2021 के िररए अय ग क प्रस्ट्तुत कर दी गइ हःै
रर यतः, जिला जनवाानन ऄजधकारी, धमतरी ्ारा ऄृन े ददनांक 02 जसतबं र, 2021 के ृ्र स0ं 485/
सा.जनवा/ा जव.स.जन./34.-व्यय लखे ा/2021 के िररए प्रस्ट्तुत की गइ ऄनुृूरक ररृ ट ा म ें यह बताया गया ह ै दक श्री रघनु ंदन
साहू न े अि की तारीख तक न त क इ भी ऄभ्यावेदन रर न ही ऄृने जनवाानन व्यय का लेखा दाजखल दकया ह ै । आसके
ऄजतररक्त ईन्होंने जनवाानन अय ग का सम्यक न रटस जमलने के ईृरांत भी ईक्त जवफलता के जलए न त क इ कारण बताया
ह ै रर न ही क इ स्ट्ृष्टीकरण ददया हःै
रर यतः, अय ग का यह समाधान ह गया ह ै दक श्री रघुनदं न साहू जनवाानन खनो का लखे ा दाजखल करन े म े
जवफल रह ेह ैंरर ईनके ृास आस जवफलता के जलए क इ भी ईजनत कारण ऄथवा रजनत्य नही ह,ै
रर यतः, ल क प्रजतजनजधत्व ऄजधजनयम, 1951 की धारा 10क म ें ऄनुबंजधत दकया गया ह ैदक :-
”यदद जनवाानन अय ग का समाधान ह िाता ह ैदक क इ व्यजक्त-
(क) जनवाानन व्ययों का लेखा ईस समय के भीतर रर ईस रीजत म ें िैसी आस ऄजधजनयम के ्ारा या ऄधीन
ऄृेजक्षेत ह,ै दाजखल करने म ेंऄसफल रहा हःै तथा
(ख) ईस ऄसफलता के जलए क इ ऄच्ोा कारण या न्याय जनत्य नहीं रखता ह,ै
जनवाानन अय ग िासकीय रािृ्र म ें प्रकाजित अदेि ्ारा ईसक जनरर्नहत घ जषत करेगा रर ऐसा व्यजक्त ईस
अदेि की तारीख स ेतीन साल की कालावजध के जलए जनरर्नहत ह गा
ऄतः, ऄब ल क प्रजतजनजधत्व ऄजधजनयम, 1951 की धारा 10क के ऄनुसरण म ें भारत जनवाानन अय ग एतद्द्वारा
घ षणा करता ह ै दक ोत्तीसगढ़ राज्य 57-कुरुद जवधान सभा जनवाानन क्षे्र े स े ोत्तीसगढ राज्य म ें जवधान सभा के साधारण[भाग II—खण् ड 3(iii)] भारत का रािृ्र : ददसम् बर 4, 2021/ऄग्रहायण 13, 1943 653
जनवाानन, 2018 म ें जनवाानन लडने वाले िनता दल (यनू ाआटेड) के ऄभ्यथी श्री रघनु दं न साहू, ग्राम, गिु रे ा, ृ स्ट्ट-मार ,
जिला-बमे ते रा, ोत्तीसगढ़ क आस अदिे की तारीख स े तीन साल की ऄवजध के जलए संसद के दकसी भी सदन ऄथवा राज्य
ऄथवा संघ राज्य-क्षे्र े की जवधान सभा ऄथवा जवधान ृररषद का सदस्ट्य नुन े िाने ऄथवा ह न े के जलए जनरर्नहत ह ै।
[फा. सं. ो.ग./जव.स./ृूवा ऄन-ु 1/57/2018]
अदेि से,
नरेन्र ना. बुट जलया, वररष्ठ प्रधान सजनव
ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
ORDER
New Delhi, the 2nd December, 2021
O.N. 297.—WHEREAS, the General Election to Legislative Assembly of Chhattisgarh, 2018 was
announced by Election Commission of India vide Press Note No. ECI/PN/66/2018 dated 6th October, 2018.
As per the schedule, Date of Counting was 11th December, 2018.
AND WHEREAS, as per Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every
contesting candidate has to lodge a true copy of his account of election expenses within 30 days with the
District Election Officer, from the date of election of returned candidate;
AND WHEREAS, the result of the said election was declared by the concerned Returning Officer
including 57-Kurud Constituency on 11th December, 2018. As such the last date for lodging of account of
election expenses was 10th January, 2019.
AND WHEREAS, as per the report dated 10th January, 2019 submitted by the District Election
Officer, Dhamtari District, Chhattisgarh and forwarded by Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh vide letter
No. 21/नार/जव.स.नु./इ.इ.एम./2019/85, dated 29th January, 2019, Sh. Raghunandan Sahu, a contesting
candidate of Janta Dal (United) from 57-Kurud Assembly Constituency of Chhattisgarh, has failed to
lodge any account of his election expenses as required by law.
AND WHEREAS, on the basis of the reports of the District Election Officer, Dhamtari District,
Chhattisgarh and the Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh, a Show Cause Notice, dated 2nd March, 2021
was issued by Election Commission of India under Sub Rule (5) of Rule 89 of the Conduct of Election
Rules,1961 to, Sh. Raghunandan Sahu for non-submission of Election expenses;
AND WHEREAS, as per Sub Rule (6) of Rule 89 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, through
the above said Show Cause Notice, dated 2nd March, 2021, Sh. Raghunandan Sahu, was directed to
submit his representation in writing in the Commission explaining the reason for non-submission of
accounts and also to lodge his accounts of election expenses/rectify the defects in his accounts and submit
the same the District Election Officer concerned within 20 days from the date of receipt of the notice;
AND WHEREAS, the said notice was pasted on 05th July, 2021 at the address given by Shri
Raghunandan Sahu. Acknowledgment receipt obtained from the candidate have been submitted to the
Commission by District Election Officer, Dhamtari vide his letter No. 329/सा.जनवाा./जनवा.ा /34-व्यय
लखे ा/2021 dated, 5th July, 2021.
AND WHEREAS, in the supplementary report submitted by District Election Officer, Kurud vide
his letter No. 898/ सामा. जनवाा/न रटस/2021 dated 2nd September, 2021 has stated that Sh. Raghunandan
Sahu, has not submitted any representation or his account of election expenses, duly signed along with
original vouchers etc. till date. Further, he has furnished neither any reason nor explanation for the said
failure even after receipt of the due notice to the Election Commission of India as well;
AND WHEREAS, the Commission satisfied that Sh. Raghunandan Sahu, has failed to lodge an
account of election expenses and has no good reason or justification for the failure;
AND WHEREAS, Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 stipulates that:-
"If the Election Commission is satisfied that a person-654 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : DECEMBER 4, 2021/AGRAHAYANA 13, 1943 [PART II—SEC. 3(iii)]
(a) has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required
by law or under this Act, and
(b) has no good reason or justification for the failure,
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 date of
the order.”
NOW THEREFORE, in pursuance of Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the
Election Commission of India hereby declares Sh. Raghunandan Sahu, Vill-Gujera, Post-Maaro, Dist-
Bemetara, Chhattisgarh and and a contesting candidate of Janta Dal (United) for General Election to
Legislative Assembly of Chhattisgarh, 2018 from 57- Kurud Constituency of the state of Chhattisgarh to
be disqualified for being chosen as and for being a member of either House of Parliament or the Legislative
Parliamentary or legislative Council of a State or Union Territory for a period of three years from the date
of this order.
[F. No. CG-LA/ES-I/57/2018]
By Order,
NARENDRA N. BUTOLIA, Sr. Principal 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.