DIPR
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 6
The Election Commission of India has issued directives to Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Police officer’s to strictly enforce the order of the consolidated instructions have been issued vide letter No. 437/6/2006-PLN-III Dated November 23, 2007Commission for immediate follow up action of some of the important directives that are to be reflected in the daily situations report of the DC/SP.The Election Commission of India has issued clear direction from time to time on use of vehicles during the period of electioneering and on the poll to prevent misuse of vehicles during election.
It is reiterated that during the period of electioneering, private vehicles can be used by the contesting candidates or agents only after registration of vehicles with the District Election Officer (DEO) or any other officer specially authorized by the DEO furnishing the details of registration number and type of vehicles and the area to be covered for such campaigns.
All details of such registered vehicles for campaign shall be handed over to the expenditure observers. Any vehicles found campaigning without such registration with the DEO shall be deemed to be unauthorized campaigning by the candidate and this may attract penal provisions under IPC and therefore be taken out of the campaigning.
In order to curb any misuse of campaign vehicles for smuggling illegal arms/liquor or other illegal activities, the District Administration and Police shall launch special drive for checking vehicles immediately.
Such checks will continue till the completion of the process of elections. Apart from impounding of vehicles engaged as unlawful activities, criminal action against the owner, occupant and the candidate/political party which is involved in such illegal activities shall be taken as per law.
Cars/vehicles being used for electioneering purposes shall, under no circumstances, be allowed to move in convoys of more than three vehicles from the date of notification till the completion of election process in any constituency.
All bigger convoys shall be broken up, even if they are carrying any minister of central or state government. This shall, however, be subject to any security instructions issued in respect of any person plus the security gradation of that particular person.
No relaxation can be made to any person with regard to absolute ban on the use of government owned/funded/hired means of transport for any reason other than security.
The number of vehicles to accompany the carcade including pilots etc will be in accordance with the instructions laid down by security authorities and these vehicles shall be prominently marked with the sticker issued by the police.
The restriction on the use of official vehicle for campaigning electioneering or election related travel will be equally applicable to the case of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly at the time of General Election to the State Assembly.
In case of persons provided with Z-Plus security cover and allotted bullet proof vehicles in view of security consideration, ECI through letter No 437/INST/2009/CC&BE dated 25.03.2009 have permitted use of such state owned bullet proof vehicle during the period of operation of Model Code of Conduct. The cost of propulsion of such person should be borne by the person concerned if it is for non-official purpose. In no case, the expenditure will be borne by the government in such cases.
Notification on use of road transport by party campaigners
Under Sec. 77 (1) of the Representation of people Act 1951, the recognized and registered political parties can communicate to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer within seven days of notification of Election in the State, the list of leaders of the party for propagating programme’s of the of the political party.
The expenditure incurred in respect of such leaders on account of their travels by road or any other means shall not be reckoned as the part of the expenditure incurred or authorized by a candidate of that political party. In order to avail this benefit, the political parties who have submitted the list of such leaders to the EC or the CEO within seven days of Notification of Election are asked to obtain the permit from the office of the CEO for the vehicles to be used during the campaign. The following conditions will be applicable:
I. All requests for permits will give details of the registration number of the vehicle, the area to be covered and the party leader who will be using the vehicle. The permit will be issued against the name of the person concerned.
II. The permit will be issued centrally by the CEO and the permits may be collected in any working day.
III. Only one party flag can be hoisted on the vehicle of the leader of the political party.
IV. All such vehicles registered with the CEO shall display the permit prominently in the vehicle.
