FREE SUPPLY OF CERTAIN MATERIAL TO CANDIDATES OF RECOGNISED POLITICAL PARTIESCentral

Section 78B of The Representation of the People Act, 1951

Supply of certain items to candidates, etc.

(1)The Election Commission shall, at any time between the date of publication of the notification calling the election for the purposes of constituting the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of a State and the date on which the poll is to be taken, supply or cause to be supplied, such items as the Central Government may, by order, determine in consultation with the Election Commission, to the electors in the constituencies concerned or to the candidates set up by the recognised political parties.
(2)Where the Election Commission supplies the items to the candidates under sub-section (1), the Central Government may, in consultation with the Election Commission, impose conditions with respect to the reduction of the maximum expenditure which may be incurred by the candidate under section 77. Explanation.—For the purposes of section 39A, this Chapter and clause (hh) of sub-section (2) of section 169, the expression "recognised political party", has the meaning assigned to it in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.]

Summary

The Election Commission provides certain items to voters or to candidates of recognized parties.
These items are chosen by the Central Government after talking with the Election Commission.
The items are supplied between the time the election is called and the day of the vote.
If items are given to candidates, the government can reduce the amount those candidates are allowed to spend on their own under Section 77.

Practical examples

1Before the election day, the government decides every voter should have a specific informative booklet. The Election Commission arranges for these to be delivered to every household in the district.

2The Election Commission gives specific campaign supplies to a recognized party candidate, Sunil. Because Sunil received these for free, the government officially lowers his maximum spending limit for the campaign.

FAQ

1. Who decides which items are supplied under Section 78B of the Representation of the People Act?

Under Section 78B of the Act, the Central Government determines the items in consultation with the Election Commission.

2. When are items supplied to candidates or voters under Section 78B of the 1951 Act?

Under Section 78B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, items are supplied between the date of the election notification and the date of the poll.

3. Does Section 78B of the Representation of the People Act allow for spending limit reductions?

Yes, if items are supplied to candidates, Section 78B of the Act allows the government to reduce the maximum expenditure limit set in Section 77.

Test yourself

1.Under Section 78B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, who determines the items that will be supplied?

2.Under Section 78B of the 1951 Act, during what time period can these items be supplied?

3.Under Section 78B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, who can receive these supplied items?

4.Under Section 78B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, what happens if the Election Commission supplies items to candidates?

78APreviousSection 78A Free supply of copies of electoral rolls.79NextSection 79 Definitions.

←Section 78A Section 79→