GHADC ELECTIONS
From Our Correspondent
TURA, March 8: The filing of nominations for the eagerly-awaited elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) begins on Monday with prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita imposed in the five districts of Garo Hills for a smooth and peaceful election process.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Agarwal has laid down guidelines for the filing of nominations by eligible candidates.
Nominations can be filed until March 16 with polling scheduled on April 10. Counting of votes will be undertaken on Apr 14.
“The filing of nomination shall start immediately with the date of notification for calling the constituencies to elect their representatives under Rule 124(2) of the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951 which is fixed for 9th March,” an order issued by the DC said.
“All the nomination papers shall be filed and received and scrutinised in the office of the respective Returning Officer/ Assistant Returning Officers within the office premises of the Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Tura. It is imperative to ensure smooth filing of nomination papers by all aspirant candidates whether put up by political parties or otherwise,” the order added.
Further the order stated that only one vehicle per candidate shall be allowed to enter within 100 metre periphery of the DC’s office complex during the entire period of filing of nomination. Moreover only four persons shall be allowed to enter the Returning Officer’s room while filing nomination which shall include the candidate and one proposer, one seconder and a legal counsel.
The order added that no person shall be allowed to gather within the 100 meter periphery of the DC’s Office complex and any unauthorised gathering of five person or more than five shall be considered unlawful assembly.
An executive magistrate or a police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector will have the authority to dispose such unlawful assembly from within the specified jurisdiction during the specified period.
The upcoming polls is already generating a lot of reactions following the notification issued by the GHADC barring non-tribal people from contesting the April 10 elections.
While Garo tribal organisations have defended the GHADC’s notification, non-tribal leaders have condemned it as unconstitutional and an attempt to deprive them of their rights.
