78A. Free supply of copies of electoral rolls.—(1) The Government shall, at any election to be held
for the purposes of constituting the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of a State, supply,
free of cost, to the candidates of recognised political parties such number of copies of the electoral roll, as
finally published under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950) and such other material
as may be prescribed.
(2) The material referred to in sub-section (1) shall be supplied,—
(i) subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Central Government in consultation with
the Election Commission with respect to the reduction of the maximum expenditure which may be
incurred by the candidate under section 77; and
(ii) through such officers as may be specified by the Election Commission who shall act in
accordance with such general or special directions as may be given by the Election Commission.
78B. 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.
1. Subs. by Act 47 of 1966, s. 36, for “returning officer” (w.e.f. 14-12-1966).
2. Section 78 re-numbered as sub-section (1) of that section by ,s. 36, ibid. (w.e.f. 14-12-1966).
3. Omitted by Act 2 of 2004, s. 3 (w.e.f. 29-10-2003).
4. Ins. by Act 46 of 2003, s. 5 (w.e.f. 11-9-2003).
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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.]