From Our Correspondent
TURA, Jan 20: The District Election Officer (DEO) of West Garo Hills, on Friday appealed to the general public to help in ensuring free and fair elections and to inform against those violating the laid norms by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
WGH has a total of 11 Assembly constituencies and with Model Code of Conduct (MCC) enforced, information to the general public on the dos and don’ts has become vital.
In a circular, the WGH DEO said, “As per IPC Sec 171.13, any person giving or accepting any gratification in cash or kind with a view to inducing the person to exercise his electoral right, is punishable with imprisonment of up to 1 year or with fine or both.”
The DEO added that threat to any candidate or elector of injury has a similar punishment, adding that flying squads and static surveillance teams have been constituted to act against both the giver and the taker of bribe and those attempting to harm or threaten electorates or candidates.
An appeal has been made to all citizens to abide by the laws and also inform if any such cases are noticed by them. The phone number to do so has been listed as 03651-222001 and 9233473074. The complaint helpline would remain open 24×7.
“Furthermore, in pursuance of specific instructions of the ECI, it is an appeal to all, that anybody carrying cash of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) and above in any area, falling under West Garo Hills during the electioneering exercise, without proper explanation on the source and end use of cash shall be liable to seizure by the Flying Squad/Static Surveillance Teams deployed for Election Expenditure Monitoring in the district,” informed the DEO.
To avoid such seizures, the DEO informed that documents will be required to show the source of money needed to be produced.
These include PAN Card and a copy of the same (if any), Business Registration Certificate copy (if any), copy of the cashbook (in case of business involving regular cash transaction), evidence for the end use of the cash, like marriage, in admissions, other emergencies etc.