Section 22. Assistant returning officers

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[4] [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[5] * to the scrutiny of nominations[6] * unless the returning officer is unavoidably prevented from performing the said function.