Patiala district administration fails to take action against Election violation near polling booths
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Patiala district administration fails to take action against Election violation near polling booths, as party flags, hoardings of two party candidates were not removed, as per ECI guidelines.
As per the election commission guidelines “there is a prohibition of canvassing near the polling booth, within a distance of one hundred meters of polling stations, on the day of poll”
As per the section130 (e) of the Representation of People Act, 1951- Prohibition of canvassing in or near polling stations-no person shall, on the date or dates on which poll is taken at any polling station, “exhibiting any notice or sign (other than an official notice) relating to the election, within the polling station or in any public or private place within a distance (one hundred meters) of the polling station” is an offence.
But, the Patiala district administration fails to take notice of clear violations, just outside the local government Pheel Khanna School, having five booths.
Two three flags of a national party were not removed on the poll day and were kept flying, at the top of a residence, adjacent to the wall of the school.
Other national party candidate also openly flouted the election commission instructions, guidelines as he fixed two big sign boards, flexes just opposite the same school gate.
When a resident raised objection, an officer in of the polling booth said “the same has already been informed to the officers of the district administration. “
On the condition of anonymity, an official said “we had already brought it in the notice of authorities. But nobody bothered to remove it and to follow the election commission of India guidelines. The district administration officials might be felling reluctant to remove the flag and the hoardings as they both are of national party.”
A voter who came to vote said “it’s a clear violation. Out of these five booths, one or two booths are that is where a particular community resides and are their voters. To attract them, the parties, administration openly flouted the guidelines.”
Patiala district administration fails to take action against Election violation near polling booths. When contacted the SDM Patiala Cahranjit singh, he said ” this has not come to my notice, otherwise we had taken the immediate action. Even i had asked the party representatives to made their booths even beyond one hundred metres. Now, the elections are over, there is no use of bringing into our notice.”
February 20,2022
