144U. Deposit towards costs for hearing and power to award costs for hearing and power to award costs.- A petitioner presenting an election petition under the last preceding section shall pay a deposit not exceeding Rs. 500 as the Commissioner may direct towards the costs for hearing the petition. Unless the petitioner deposits the same as aforesaid, the petition shall be summarily dismissed. Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, at the time of deciding the petition, the Commissioner shall assess the costs of the hearing of the petition and shall require the petitioner or the respondents, or both as the case may be, to defray the whole or in such proportion as he thinks fit, the costs of the petition including the deposit so made. The Commissioner shall credit to Government such sum as he assesses as the cost to Government of hearing the petition (but not exceeding Rs. 500 in any case). |