JAMMU, Mar 7: The Election Commission has directed all District Magistrates and police authorities to take preventive measures well in advance to maintain law and order situation during upcoming general elections in the State and ensure conducive atmosphere for conduct of free, fair and transparent polling. The directions have been conveyed by the Election Commission to the District Magistrates and top brass of police through the Election Officials of Jammu and Kashmir. “Apart from issuing directions to the District Magistrates and police authorities for maintenance of law and order for free and fair elections, the Commission will be constantly monitoring ground situation closely and will take appropriate measures to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful manner and there were no reports of any violence, rigging or bogus voting,’’ official sources said. They added that based on the assessment of ground situation, the Election Commission would deploy Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs) and State Armed Police (SAP) drawn from other States during ensuing general election for safeguarding the polling stations and providing security to electorates before and on the day of polling. “The CAPFs and SAPs would also be used for securing the strong rooms, where the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be stored after the voting, the counting centres and for all other requisite purposes,’’ they said. The Election Commission, sources said, has issued a special directive to the Government to ensure that there was no intimidation of the voters belonging to weaker sections especially the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). For the purpose, the Commission has quoted Section 3(1)(VII) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 under which any person intimidating Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes against exercising their right to franchise should be punished as per the law, the sentence for which varied between six months to five years and a fine. “The Election Commission has asked the State Government to bring the provisions of any intimidation against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to the notice of police for prompt action,’’ sources said. Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narula today held a meeting with all national and regional political parties and apprised them of the guidelines under Model Code of Conduct (MCC), paid news, election expenditure monitoring mechanism and other measures required to be taken during the elections. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer (DyCEO) Rashpal Singh was also present in the meeting. Mr Narula apprised the political parties about the Model Code of Conduct and other guidelines pertaining to expenditure required to be observed during the elections. The political parties assured their full cooperation to the Election Commission officials during the election campaigning. It may be mentioned here that Jammu and Kashmir would go to Lok Sabha elections in five phases from April 10 to May 7. Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat would go to polls on April 10, Udhampur-Doda on April 17, Anantnag on April 24, Srinagar on April 30 and Baramulla and Ladakh on May 7. Mr Narula requested representatives of political parties to co-operate with the officials and strictly adhere to guidelines of ECI regarding poll expenditure, publicity, election manifesto, campaigning etc at the meeting of all political parties convened here. He said that the Commission has made elaborate arrangements for ensuring effective implementation of the MCC Guidelines and re-emphasised that the instructions issued in this regard should be read and understood by all political parties, contesting candidates and their agents/representatives, to avoid any misgivings or lack of information or understanding/interpretation. He said that Expenditure Observers would keep a close watch on election expenditure of the candidates and to ensure that no inducement is offered to the electors during the entire election process for exercise of their franchise. Mr Narula further said that the political parties for any kind of publicity during the elections including advertisements in the form of posters, TV Ads, Paper Ads etc will all require a prior certification. He said Commission has created Media Certification and Monitoring Committees to deal with any Paid News and other media related violations, besides carrying out the existing provisions of pre-certification of political advertisements. Mr Narula said that to facilitate the voters the Commission has directed that Voter Slip along with Photo will be distributed to all enrolled voters by the DEO. These Voter Slips will also be accepted as identity proof of voters at Polling Stations. He said that all electoral rolls will be exhibited at the polling stations on March 9 for addition of any left out voters to the list. He asked for co-operation of all political parties for conduct of a free and fair election process in the State.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 06:59:46 +0000
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