Violation of Section 127 A of the R P Act to be taken seriously, DC Aashika Jain
April 14 (Punjab Khabarnama) : Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer, Mrs Aashika Jain has said that election-related Hoardings/Posters/Banners must have the identity of printer and publisher.
Citing the fresh guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India regarding the election-related hoardings on sites controlled/regulated by Local self-government/Municipal Authorities, Deputy Commissioner has made it clear that the hoardings must carry the name and address of Printer and Publisher.
She said that various representations have been received by the Commission stating that in hoarding spaces controlled/ regulated by Local Self Government/Municipal authorities, hoardings without the identity of the printer or publisher have been noticed.
ECI has further emphasised that the fundamental Imperatives which underwrite the design of R P Act 1951 & the Model Code of Conduct in the campaigning space, in print mode, inter-alia, are the disclosure of identity of the publisher and, thereby his responsibility of the content of the material so published.
Similarly, Section 127A of the R P Act 1951 clearly prohibits publishing of election pamphlet/poster without bearing the name & publisher on the face thereof. Section 127 A (3) (b) gives a wide amplitude to the meaning of the phase “election pamphlet or poster”, to include “placard or poster”. Thus any non-compliances or obfuscation of this requirement is always to be viewed seriously.
She has advised all municipal authorities or such authorities that are responsible for hoardings/posters/banners etc. for strict compliance of the orders of ECI. Besides, Printers and Publishers (Political Parties/candidates or their representatives) have also been asked to adhere to the directions of ECI, in principle.
