73.
(1) A person who is an authorized agent or a group leader at an election in any Development Council area, or is the agent of such authorized agent or group leader, shall not have
| | (a) during the period commencing from the first day of the nomination period at such election and ending on the day immediately preceding the date on which a poll is taken at such election, any election office, other than one notified central election office in the Development Council area, and one notified branch election office in each polling district; | | |
| | (b) during the period commencing on the day immediately preceding the date of such poll and ending on the day immediately following such date, any election office, other than one notified central election office in the Development Council area and one notified branch election office in respect of each candidate nominated by any recognized political party or independent group for that Development Council area, | | |
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(2) The use of the ordinary place of residence of any authorized agent or group leader or candidate referred to in subsection (1) as an election office shall be deemed not to be a contravention of the provisions of that subsection. |
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(3) Every person who contravenes the provisions of sub section (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction after summary trial before a Magistrate, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred rupees, or to imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding one month or to both such fine and imprisonment. |
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(4) Every person who attempts to commit any offence specified in this section shall be liable to the punishment prescribed for that offence. |
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(5) A prosecution for an offence under this section shall not be instituted without the sanction of the Attorney General. |
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(6) For the purpose, of this, the term "notified" in relation to any election office, means notified to the officer in charge of the police station for the area, and the returning officer for the Development Council area, in which that office is situated, before such office is established. |
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