Election to the Office of President of India, 2012 (14th Presidential Election)

The term of office of Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India, ends on 24th July, 2012. An election to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing President shall need to be completed before the expiration of her term. The law provides that the notification for election shall be issued on, or as soon as conveniently may be after, the sixtieth day before the expiry of term of office of the out going President.

2. Article 324 of the Constitution read with the Presidential and Vice –Presidential Elections Act, 1952, and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974 vests the superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of election to the office of the President of India in the Election Commission of India. The Election Commission is mandated to ensure that the election to the office of the President of India, which is the highest elective office in the nation, must be a free and fair election and the Commission is taking all necessary steps for discharging its constitutional responsibility.

3. The President is elected by the members of the Electoral College consisting of:

(I) elected members of both Houses of Parliament, and

(II) elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all States including National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

(The nominated members of either Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha or Legislative Assemblies of the States are not eligible to be included in the Electoral College and therefore, they are not entitled to participate in the election).

4. The Seven-Judges Bench of the Supreme Court of India unanimously held in 1974 in the case of Presidential election that “the Electoral College as mentioned in Article 54 is independent of the Legislatures mentioned in Article 54. None of the Legislatures mentioned in Article 54 has for the purpose of that Article any separate identity vis-a-vis in the Electoral College. The Electoral College compendiously indicates a number of persons, holding the qualifications specified in the Article to constitute the electorate for the election of the President and to act as independent electors…”

Article 55 (3) of the Constitution provides that the election shall be held in accordance with the System of Proportional Representation by means of single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

5. The Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, has decided to appoint the Secretary General to the Rajya Sabha as the Returning Officer for the election. The Commission has also decided to appoint Assistant Returning Officers in all State Capitals including NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry for making arrangements for conducting the poll and for transportation of the ballot boxes and other important documents to and from the Election Commission. For meeting any eventuality in case the Assistant Returning Officer is not available for any reason, a second Assistant Returning Officer is also being appointed. A list of Assistant Returning Officers is at Appendix-I.

6. In pursuance of sub-section (1) of section (4) of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Election Commission of India has fixed the following schedule for the election to fill the office of the President of India:

Issue of Election Commission’s notification calling the election	16.06.2012 (Saturday)
Last date for making nominations	30.06.2012 (Saturday)
Date for the scrutiny of nominations	02.07.2012 (Monday)
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures	04.07.2012 (Wednesday)
Date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken	19.07.2012 (Thursday)
Date on which counting, if required, shall be taken	22.07.2012 (Sunday)

7. The nomination paper of a candidate must be delivered to the Returning Officer at New Delhi in the place to be specified by him by a public notice either by the candidate or by any of his Proposers or Seconders between 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. A nomination paper of a candidate has to be subscribed by at least fifty electors as Proposers and at least fifty electors as Seconders. An elector can subscribe to only one nomination paper of a candidate as either a Proposer or a Seconder. The security deposit for the election is Rs. 15,000/- (Rupees fifteen thousand only), which is required to be made along with the nomination paper.

8. The list of Members of the Electoral College maintained by the Commission for the Presidential Election, 2012 (as of today) is available for sale @ Rs. 300/-per copy from the counter opened in the premises of Election Commission of India. A copy of the Electoral College is also being uploaded on the Commission’s website.

9. The polling, if required, shall take place in the polling stations as given in the list at Appendix-II.

10. The Commission appoints senior Officers of the Government of India as its observers at the place(s) of polling.

11. The Chief Electoral Officers of each State including NCT of Delhi and UT of Puducherry shall supervise and coordinate with the Assistant Returning Officers for the conduct of poll at the respective State Capitals and transport of the ballot boxes and other important documents to and from the Election Commission to the respective State Capitals including Capitals of NCT of Delhi and UT of Puducherry.

12. Normally, members of Parliament are expected to cast their votes at New Delhi and members of all respective State Legislative Assemblies at the concerned State’s Capital. However, on account of any exigency for special circumstances, the Members of Parliament can vote in any of the polling stations in the State Capital/Delhi/Puducherry. Similarly, any MLA desirous of voting at New Delhi or at any other State Capital instead of voting in the relevant State Capital can also do so. For this purpose, the electors have to apply in the prescribed format available with the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers so as to reach the Election Commission at least 10 days before the date of poll.

13. The Commission has brought out a comprehensive booklet covering all aspects of election to the office of the President and copies of the publication can be obtained @ Rs. 25/- per copy from the Commission’s sale counter or from the offices of the Chief Electoral Officers in different States and Union Territories.

APPENDIX-I

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 2012

RETURNING OFFICER

Returning Officer in New Delhi

Dr. Vivek K. Agnihotri,

Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha,

Room No. 29, Parliament House,

New Delhi-110001.

ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICERS

Assistant Returning Officers at Parliament

Shri S.K. Ganguli, Joint Secretary (G),

Rajya Sabha Secretariat,

Parliament House,

New Delhi-110001.

Shri Deepak Goyal, Joint Secretary (DG),

Rajya Sabha Secretariat,

Parliament House,

New Delhi-110001.

Sl. No	State/Union Territory	Officers appointed as Assistant Returning Officer
(1)	(2)	(3)
1.	Andhra Pradesh	1. Dr. S. Raja Sadaram, Secretary to State Legislature, Andhra Pradesh, Public Gardens, Hyderabad-500 004.
		2. Smt. V. Girija Sundari, Deputy Secretary to Legislature, Andhra Pradesh, Public Gardens, Hyderabad-500 004.
2.	Arunachal Pradesh	1. Shri Mudang Lasa, Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Naharlagun-791110.
		2. Shri Kago Habung, Additional Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Naharlagun-791110.
3.	Assam	1. Shri G. P. Das, Principal Secretary, Assam Legislative Assembly, Dispur, Guwahati-781006.
		2. Shri P.K. Das, Additional Secretary, Assam Legislative Assembly, Dispur, Guwahati-781006.
4.	Bihar	1. Sri Lakshmikant Jha, Secretary- In-Charge, Bihar Legislative Assembly, Patna.
		2. Sri Hare Ram Mukhia, Deputy Secretary (Legal Cell), Bihar Legislative Assembly, Patna.
5.	Chhattisgarh	1. Shri Devendra Verma, Secretary, Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
		2. Shri Chandra Shekhar Gangrade, Additional Secretary, Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
6.	Goa	1. Shri N.B. Subhedar, Secretary, Goa Legislature Secretariat, Assembly Complex, Porvorim, Goa-403521.
		2. Shri Yuvraj Naik, Joint Secretary, Goa Legislature Secretariat, Assembly Complex, Porvorim, Goa-403521.
7.	Gujarat	1. Shri D.M. Patel, Secretary, Gujarat Legislatature Secretariat, Viththalbhai Patel Bhavan, Sector No.-10, Gandhinagar-382010.
		2. Shri Pankaj A. Buch, Deputy Secretary-(Incharge, of election work) Gujarat Legislatature Secretariat, Viththalbhai Patel Bhavan, Sector No.-10, Gandhinagar-382010.
8.	Haryana	1. Shri Sumit Kumar, Secretary, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Sector-1, Chandigarh.
		2. Shri Rajender Kumar Nandal, Additional Secretary, Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Sector-1, Chandigarh.
9.	Himachal Pradesh	1. Shri Goverdhan Singh, Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, Shimla
		2. Shri Ravi Kumar Singh, Under Secretary (Legn.), Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, Shimla.
10.	Jammu & Kashmir	1. Mr. M. Ramzan, Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Jammu/Srinagar.
		2. Mr. Mulk Raj Singh, Additional Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
11.	Jharkhand	1. Shri Samrendra Kumar Pandey, Special Secretary, Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, Ranchi
		2. Shri Sushil Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, Ranchi
12.	Karnataka	1. Shri P. Omprakasha, Secretary, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, P.B. No. 5074, Room No. 121, 1^st Floor, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore-500233.
		2. Shri M.Manjunath, Additional Secretary, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, P.B. No. 5074, Room No. 131, 1^st Floor, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore-500233.
13.	Kerala	1. Shri. P.K. Muraleedharan, Secretary-In-Charge, Kerala Legislature Secretariat, Legislature Complex, Thiruvananthapuram-695033.
		2. Shri. Wilson V. John, Joint Secretary, Kerala Legislature Secretariat, Legislature Complex, Thiruvananthapuram-695033.
14.	Madhya Pradesh	1. Shri Rajkumar Pande, Principal Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Bhopal-462004 (M.P.).
		2. Shri A.P. Singh, Additional Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Ssabha Secretariat, Bhopal-462004 (M.P.).
15.	Maharashtra	1. Dr. A. N. Kalse, Principal Secretary, Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat, Vidhan Bhavan, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai-400032.
		2. Shri Subhashchandra Mayekar, Deputy Secretary, Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat, Vidhan Bhavan, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai-400032.
16.	Manipur	1. Smt. Y. Indira Devi, Secretary, Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat. Imphal-795001.
		2. Smt. M. Ramani Devi, Deputy Secretary, Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Imphal-795001.
17.	Meghalaya	1. Smt. H. Mylliemngap, Secretary, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
		2. Shri A. Simons, Additional Secretary, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly,.
18.	Mizoram	1. Shri Ngurthanzuala, Secretary, Mizoram Legislative Assembly Secretariat.
		2. Shri Vanlalnghenga, Additional Secretary, Mizoram Legislative Assembly Secretariat.
19.	Nagaland	1. Shri A. E. Lotha, Secretary Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Kohima-797001.
		2. Shri K. Sekhose, Additional Secretary, Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Kohima-797001.
20.	Odisha	1. Shri Amiya Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Odisha Legislative Assembly, Odisha Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Bhuaneshwar, District-Khurda Odisha, Pin NO-751001
		2. Shri Bhawani Sankar Senapati, joint Secretary, Odisha Legislative Assembly, Odisha Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Bhubaneswar, District-Khurda, Odisha, Pin No- 751001.
21.	Punjab	1. Shri Ved Parkash, Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Sector-I, Chandigarh.
		2. Smt. Paramjit Kaur, Under Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Sector-I, Chandigarh.
22.	Rajasthan	1. Shri Krishan Murari Gupta, Deputy Secretary, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Janpath, Jaipur-302005.
		2. Shri Prahlad Das Pareek, Assistant Secretary (General), Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Janpath, Jaipur-302005.
23.	Sikkim	1. Shri D. Rinchen, Secretary, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Nam-Nang, Gangtok-737101.
		2. Shri Karma T. Gyatso, Deputy Secretary, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Nam-Nang, Gangtok-737101.
24.	Tamil Nadu	1. Thiru A. M. P. Jamaludeen, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Chennai-600009.
		2. Thiru K. Balasubramanian, Deputy Secretary, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Chennai-600009.
25.	Tripura	1. Shri Subhas Bhattacharjee, Secretary, Tripura Legislative Assembly, Agartala-799006, West Tripura.
		2 Shri Hari Bhusan Debnath, Under Secretary, Tripura Legislative Assembly, Agartala-799006, West Tripura
26.	Uttarakhand	1. Shri D. P. Gairola, Principal Secretary, V-7, Old Officers Colony, Race Course, Dehradun.
		2. Shri Vishnu Chakra Thapliyal, Joint Secretary, House No. 127, Raj Rajeshwari Vihar, Lower Nathanpur, Dehradun.
27.	Uttar Pradesh	1. Shri Pradeep Kumar Dubey, Principal Secretary, Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Uttar Pradesh, Vidhan Bhawan, Lucknow-226156.
		2. Sri Anil Kumar, Special Secretary, Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Uttar Pradesh, Vidhan Bhawan, Lucknow-226156.
28.	West Bengal	1. Shri Jadablal Chakraborty, Secretary, West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Assembly House, Kolkata-700001.
		2. Shri Buddheswar Mohanti, Special Secretary, West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Assembly House, Kolkata-700001.
29.	NCT of Delhi	1. Shri P. N. Mishra, Secretary, Room No. 50, Dehli Legislative Assembly, Old Secretariat, Delhi.
		2. Sh.Lal Mani, Deputy Secretary, Room No. 128A, Delhi Legislative Assembly, Old Secretariat, Delhi.
30.	Puducherry	1. Shri R. Anbajagane Secretary, Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Victor Simonel Street, Puducherry-605001.
		2. Shri N.Ramachandran, Editor of Debates, Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Victor Simonel Street, Puducherry-605001.

APPENDIX-II

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, 2012-LIST OF PLACES OF POLLING

GROUP OF ELECTORS PLACE OF POLL

I	Elected Members of both Houses of Parliament	Room No. 63, First Floor, Parliament House, New Delhi-110001.

II	Elected Members of State Legislative Assemblies
Sl. No.	State	Place of Polling
1-	Andhra Pradesh	Committee Hall No. 1, First Floor, Assembly Buildings,Public Gardens, Hyderabad.
2-	Arunachal Pradesh	“Nokmey Namati Hall”, Arunachal Pradesh LegislativeAssembly Building, Itanagar.
3-	Assam	Central Hall, Assam Legislative Assembly Building, Dispur.
4-	Bihar	Reading Room upper floor of Library, Bihar Legislative Assembly, Patna.
5-	Chhattisgarh	Committee Room No. 2, Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Raipur.
6-	Goa	Room No. 015, Ground Floor, VIP Block (Committee Room), Assembly Complex, Porvorim, Goa.
7-	Gujarat	Room No. 116, First Floor, Viththalbhai Patel Bhavan (Assembly Building), Gandhinagar.
8-	Haryana	Old Committee Room, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Vidhan Bhawan, Chandigarh.
9-	Himachal Pradesh	“Dr. Y. S. Parmar Vidhan Sabha Library Hall”, Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Shimla.
10-	Jammu & Kashmir	Assembly Lobby in Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Secretariat, Srinagar.
11-	Jharkhand	“North Lobby (Opposition Lobby)”, Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha, Ranchi.
12-	Karnataka	Room No. 106, 1^st Floor, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore-01.
13-	Kerala	Room No. 604 (Air Conditioned), II^nd Floor,Kerala Legislative Assembly Building, Thiruvananthapuram.
14-	Madhya Pradesh	Committee Room No. 2, M-02 (Ground Floor), Indira Gandhi Vidhan Bhawan, Arera Hills, Bhopal.
15-	Maharashtra	“The Central Hall, 4^th Floor, Vidhan Bhavan, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai-400032”
16-	Manipur	Committee Room, Ground Floor, New AssemblyBuilding, Chingmeirong, Imphal West District, Manipur.
17-	Meghalaya	Conference Hall, Member’s Hostel, Shillong.
18-	Mizoram	Committee Room, Mizoram Legislative Assembly, MainBuilding (2^nd Floor), Aizawl
19-	Nagaland	Committee Room, Assembly Secretariat Kohima.
20-	Orissa	Room No. 54 (1^st Floor), Odisha Legislative AssemblyBuildings, Bhubaneswar.
21-	Punjab	‘Committee Room A’, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, Vidhan Bhawan, Chandigarh.
22-	Rajasthan	Room No. 751, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Jaipur.
23-	Sikkim	Committee Room, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Gangtok.
24-	Tamil Nadu	“Committee Room”, Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-9.
25-	Tripura	Assembly Lobby, Tripura Legislative Assembly, Agartala.
1-	Uttarakhand	Room No. 321, Vidhan Sabha Bhawan, Uttarakhand, Dehradun.
2-	Uttar Pradesh	“Tilak Hall”, Vidhan Bhawan, Lucknow.
3-	West Bengal	Assembly Chamber, West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Kolkata.
4-	NCT of Delhi	Committee Room No. 1, Delhi Legislative Assembly, Old Secretariat, Delhi.
5-	UT of Puducherry	Committee Room, Ground Floor, Southern Block of Puducherry Legislative Assembly Complex, Puducherry.

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