Section 26 · Penalty for disorderly conduct in or near polling stations

(1) No person shall, on the date or dates on which a poll is taken at any polling station,— (a) use or operate within or at the entrance of the polling station or in any public or private place in the neighbourhood thereof, any apparatus for amplifying or reproducing the human voice, such as a megaphone or a loudspeaker; or (b) shout, or otherwise act in a disorderly manner, within or at the entrance of the polling station or in any public or private place in the neighbourhood thereof, so as to cause annoyance to any person visiting the polling station of the poll or so as to interfere with the work of the officers and other persons on duty at the polling station. (2) Any person who contravenes, or wilfully aids or abets the contravention of, any provision of sub-section (1) shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees, or with both. (3) If the presiding officer of a polling Station has reason to believe that any person is committing or has committed an offence punishable under this section, he may direct any police officer to arrest such person, and thereupon the police officer shall arrest him. (4) Any police officer may take such steps, and use such force, as may be reasonably necessary for preventing any contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1), and may seize any apparatus used for such contravention.