ELECTION COMMISSION ORDERS FOR VIDEOGRAPHY
OF SENSITIVE
POLLING STATIONS IN GENERAL ELECTIONS OF PRIS
Chandigarh May 10, 2008
HSG
The State Election Commission, Punjab today directed all the
District Electoral Officers-cum-Deputy Commissioners and Additional
District Electoral Officers–cum-Additional Deputy Commissioners
(Dev.) in the State to record through videography of main critical
events during the process of election with a view to have a true,
faithful and concurrent record of the violations of election laws.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election
Commission, Punjab said that the concerned District Electoral
Officer in consultation with the Observers could make arrangements
to record through videography of main critical events during the
process of election particularly on the day of poll. For this
purpose, video cameras and crew available with the Governmental
or semi-Governmental agencies or local professional videographers
could be used/hired.
The Commission has also directed that Videography would be carried
out in the sensitive polling station on random basis or as required
by the urgency of local situation. It could also be used to record
commission of corrupt practices in the electoral process. The
District Electoral Officer / Addl. District Electoral Officer
could decide upon the number of video teams required for the purpose.
The Commission has advised that the items that could be considered
for proper watch and videography are like riots or riotous situations
or commotions, brick batting, free-for-all etc., violent incidents,
damaging of property, looting, arson, brandishing of arms etc.,
booth capturing, intimidation of voters, inducement/ bribing of
voters by distribution of items like sarees, dhotis, blankets
etc., canvassing within 100 metres of polling stations, vulgar
display of expenditure like huge cutouts etc., movement and activities
of candidates with doubtful/ criminal records, hypersensitive
& sensitive polling stations and counting process.
"Further all the video and digital photography would be
done with date & time recording so that real date & time
could be verified. The video films, thus, prepared would be viewed
by the Returning Officers/ District Electoral Officers/ Additional
District Electoral Officers to identify whether any violation
of the poll process/model code of conduct has taken place",
said he. They would take appropriate necessary action as per law
and also bring it to the notice of the State Election Commission,
Punjab.
He said that the video/ digital proceedings inside the polling
station would be carried out inside the polling stations in Panchayati
Raj Institutions elections on the same pattern as adopted in the
Assembly elections. This coverage of poll proceedings would be
done without compromising the secrecy of voting at polling booths.
The Commission further directed that in case of any ambiguity/
clarification, the instructions issued by the Election Commission
of India for Assembly elections would prevail in the Panchayati
Raj Institutions elections also.
ELECTIONS OF TWO ZONES OF TWO ZILA PARISHADS
AND FOUR PANCHAYAT SAMITIS POSTPONED TO 26TH MAY
Chandigarh May 10, 2008
The State Election Commission, Punjab today postponed the elections
of the two zones of two Zila Parishads and four Panchayat Samitis
to 26th May which were scheduled to be held on 12th May 2008 in
the state.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election
Commission, Punjab said that on the directions of Hon'ble Punjab
and Haryana High Court, the elections to Zila Parishad Bathinda
Zone No. 10 Bangi Ruldu (women) District Bathinda and Zila Parishad
Ludhiana Zone No. 11 Binjal District Ludhiana, Panchayat Samiti
Zone
No.12 Dhandowal Distt. Jalandhar, Panchayat Samiti Ghanour Zone
No.12 Bathonia Kalan (BC) Distt Patiala, Panchayat Samiti Bhunga
Zone No.19 Bassi Ballo District Hosiarpur and Panchayat Samiti
Zone No. 15 Machhiwara District Ludhiana have been postponed to
26th May.
He said that as per the election schedule, specific date has
to be fixed for withdrawal and allotment of symbols. Further period
of campaigning would also to be allowed. Accordingly it is directed
that polls to the two zones of both the Zila Parishads and the
above said Panchayat Samitis, which were scheduled to be held
on 12.05.2008, have been hereby postponed. Further, the polls
to these bodies would be held on 26.05.2008. The date of withdrawal
would be 19th May 2008 and symbols would be allotted thereafter.
He added that the concerned District Electoral Officers have
been also directed by the State Election Commission in this regard
to take further necessary actions immediately under intimation
to the Commission.
MORE THAN 151 LAC VOTERS TO EXERCISE THEIR
FRANCHISE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS OF ZILA PARISHADS AND PANCHAYAT
SAMITIS
Chandigarh May 10, 2008
In the general elections of PRIs i.e Zila Parishads and Panchayat
Samitis more than 151 lac voters would exercise their franchise
in the state on Monday May 12th 2008.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election
Commission said that total 17714 polling booths have been set
up for elections of 20 Zila Parishads and 141 Panchayat Samitis.
To ensure smooth, free and fair voting about 88700 employees have
been deputed on all the polling booths as presiding officers and
polling officers.
Besides this the Commission had already deputed 29 Observers in
the state.
STATE ELECTION COMMISSION REPLACES AN
ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICER AND SHO
Chandigarh May 10, 2008
HSG
The State Election Commission, Punjab today changed an Assistant
Returning Officer (ARO) in block Kahnuwan District Gurdaspur and
issued directions to transfer SHO, Police Station Payal district
Ludhiana.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the State Election
Commission said that Mr. Sukhdev Raj, Sub-Divisional Engineer
has been appointed as new ARO of Panchayat Samiti Kahnuwan and
Zila Parishad Gurdaspur Zone No. 13 Zafarwal replacing Mr. Ram
Gopal Sub-Divisional Engineer. Earlier to Ram Gopal Mr. Phuman
Singh Tehsildar Kahnuwan was assigned the duty of ARO of this
block.
In another case the Commission has issued directions to DIG Ludhiana
Range to transfer SHO, Police Station Payal district Ludhiana
immediately on the complaint of Mrs. Charanjit Kaur of village
Kaddon Tehsil Payal District Ludhiana. It was alleged by the complaint
that on the last day of filing of the nomination papers her son
was illegally detained by registering a case against her son under
the Excise Act and was physically tortured. The matter was got
enquired into from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Khanna and the
Election Observer. They have found prima facie that he has acted
in an illegal and partisan manner in this case. The Commission
was convinced on the report that it would not be possible for
the electors to exercise their franchise free and fearlessly during
the incumbency of the current SHO, PS Payal.
The State Commission has directed to DIG and SSP Ludhiana to
transfer SHO, PS, Payal forthwith to a non public dealing post
till at least during the period when the election Code of Conduct
is in force and the compliance report may please be faxed today
itself.
