THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1951 · ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY FOR THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
Section 22 — Assistant returning officers
(1)The Election Commission may appoint one or more persons to assist any returning officer in the performance of his functions:
Provided that every such person shall be 2[an officer of Government or of a local authority].
(2)Every assistant returning officer shall, subject to the control of the returning officer, be competent to perform all or any of the functions of the returning officer:
Provided that no assistant returning officer shall perform any of the functions of the returning officer which relate 3*** to the scrutiny of nominations 4*** unless the returning officer is unavoidably prevented from performing the said function.