Who are Assistant returning officers? Section 22 of Representation of the People Act, 1951
(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 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 to the scrutiny of nominations unless the returning officer is unavoidably prevented from performing the said function.
The Representation of the People Act 1951
Section 22 Assistant returning officers
Section 24 General duty of the returning officer
Section 25 Provision of polling stations for constituencies
Section 26 Appointment of presiding officers for polling stations
Section 27 General duty of the presiding officer, Section 28 Duties of a polling officer
Section 29 Special provisions in the case of certain elections
PART IVA REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
Section 29B Political parties entitled to accept contribution
Section 29C Declaration of donation received by the political parties
PART V CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I Nomination of Candidates