Rs 70 lakh limit fixed for election campaigning in Haryana

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 8

According to the directions of Election Commission of India, each candidate can spend an amount of up to Rs 70 lakh for election campaigning in Haryana at the time of General Elections to Lok Sabha-2019. Before filling the nomination papers, the candidate will have to open a separate bank account either on his name or a joint account with his name and with his election agents’ name. All types of election related expenses will be carried out through that bank account only.

          While giving this information, Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana, Dr Inder Jeet said that all the political parties or candidates must strictly adhere to the rules related to maintaining of election expenses. He said that the expenditure limit in General Elections to Lok Sabha-2019 is Rs 70 lakh. Apart from this, the candidate would be given expenditure register at the time of filling of nomination papers in which he would have to maintain the details of sum received for election expenses and details of expenses.

          He said that the candidate can spend in cash up to Rs 10,000 and for over Rs 10,000, the candidate can spend through cheque, RTGS, NEFT and Demand Draft. The Election Commission of India would appoint Election Expenditure Observers to keep vigil on election expenses. The District Administration would depute Assistant Election Expenditure Observers in every Assembly Constituency. At the election campaigning, the candidate would have to get his expenditure register examined thrice on the prescribed date and time as given by the Election Expenditure Observer, else he or she would be served notice. If any candidate does not come to get his expenditure details examined then the permission sought by the candidate for taking vehicles would be withdrawn and he would not be able to use those vehicles.  

          Dr Inder Jeet said that this time, it is mandatory for the candidate to furnish the details of last five years’ Income tax returns (ITR). Wherever required in cases, details of the Hindu undivided family should also be given. At the same time, it is also mandatory to furnish the details of candidates’ or his any family members’ bank account in any foreign bank or other foreign institution, the information about their deposits and liabilities. He said that according to the directions of the Commission, the candidate would also have to information about his social media account. Later, if it is found that the candidate has not given information about his social media account, then action could also be taken against him.

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'Doctor prescription' to increase voting percentage for LS elections

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 8 

Taking a significant step to increase voting percentage in the ensuing Lok Sabha General Elections 2019, the Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Mr. Rajeev Ranjan has requested all the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officers to ensure that all doctors have stamp of voting date May 12, 2019 on the prescription slips of patients. For this, a meeting would soon be held with the officials of the Indian Medical Association.

          Mr. Ranjan was presiding over a review meeting of State Level Systematic Education and Participation Core Committee, here today. Officers and officials of Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Primary, Secondary and Higher Education Departments, Haryana Transport, Haryana School Education Board, Red Cross and Women and Child Development Department were present in the meeting.

          Mr. Ranjan also urged the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that the information of voting date should also be printed at local level on boxes of sweets, restaurants and cinemas hall tickets. Apart from this, the audio consisting information of the voting date should also be played at religious places. He said that as the polling will be held on Sunday, the private sector employers ensure grant of paid leave to their employees.

          He also emphasized that in order to motivate the people to cast their vote, messages should be recorded of personalities from all the fields be it sports, education, social sector, the intellectuals or state level icon. He said that the parliamentary constituencies, in which the voting percentage will increase this time as compared to the General Election of 2014, the officials of the districts bagging top three positions, will be awarded by the Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana.

          It was informed in the meeting that this time about 5.21 lakh new voters have got themselves registered in the state after the voter list was published in the Lok Sabha elections on January 31, 2019 and the last date of registration is April 12, 2019 and it is expected that about 30,000 to 35,000 more people would be registered. It was also informed in the meeting that there are about 2,200 persons, who were born on January 1, 2001, completed 18 years of age and became voters for the first time.

          Mr. Ranjan urged the District Electoral Officers to disseminate information about the importance of casting vote to the voters, that any information related to the voting can be obtained through the Voter Helpline number 1950, via SMS from the Commission or through local BLO.

          Others present in the meeting included Joint Chief Electoral Officers, Dr. Inder Jeet and Mr. Apoorva, Sweep Core Committee's Nodal Officer, Mr. Maheshwar Sharma and other officials.

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cVIGIL APP empowes people to act at Election Observer

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 4 

The Election Commission of India  through cVIGIL App has  for the first time  equipped the  people with  the power equal to that of an Election Observer, to register complaints related to violation of Model Code of Conduct  for the General Elections to Lok Sabha-2019. By using this App, citizens can support in  the Election Commission  for conducting the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

          While giving this information today, Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Rajiv Ranjan said that through this latest mobile application, the citizens can report about violation of Model Code of Conduct and election expenses. He said that  the citizens could download this application from Google Play store on Android phone and from App Store on iPhone. He said that people can take photographs or record two minute’s video and upload it on this app. The photo and video would be uploaded to the app with automatic GPS location and within 20 minutes after registering the complaint, the concerned team would reach the location and efforts would be made to resolve the complaint within 100 minutes.

          He said that the main aim of this App is to curb violation of Model Code of Conduct and restrain the people from excessive expenditure during elections so that they work within the purview of law. He said that as the number of officers and employees on election duty are limited so with the participation of public, the Commission would get more information. He said that if the complainant does not want to disclose his name or identity then the Application has the facility of registering the complaint without disclosing any identity. He said that if the complainant discloses his identity or number then he would receive all information related to  the kind of action taken on the complaint till it is resolved.

          He said that through cVIGIL App, the citizens can give live report of violation of Civil Model Code of Conduct. No old photo or video could be uploaded on this application. There is only the facility of uploading live photos or video on this application. The complaints which could be reported through this application included distribution of money, gift or coupon, liquor, poster or banner without permission, demonstration of firearms, threats, unauthorized entry of convoy or vehicle, paid news,  facilitating the voters to reach to the polling booth on the day of voting, campaigning on the day of voting within 100 meters of the polling booth, election campaigning  after close of campaigning 48 hours before polling day, religious or communal speech, use of loud speakers more than the permitted time and pasting of posters without declaration.

          He said that if the complainant does not have a Smartphone therefore cannot make use of Cvigil App, then  one can also register the complaint on Voter Helpline Toll Free Number-1950 and National Grievance Service Portal.

          He said that in earlier times during elections, false reports of violation of Model Code of Conduct also used to be registered, which were not possible to be monitored. This App would check such false reports, the complaints would be monitored and would also be timely redressed.  The main advantage of this App is that the photos or videos uploaded on it would be useful as evidences and if any such cases go to the Court then these photos or videos could be presented as evidences.  

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Haryana Police arrest 215 persons on drug peddling charges in Sirsa

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 3

Haryana Police has registered 139 cases and arrested 215 persons on the charges of drug peddling in Sirsa  under a special drive against drug-peddlers during past four months period.

          While stating this here today, a spokesman of Police Department said that a large quantity of narcotic substances including more than 2 kg 113 gram heroin, 8 kg 740 gram opium, 702 kg 727 gram chura post and doda post, over 1.22 lakh prohibited pharma pills and 42090 intoxicant capsules were seized from the possession of the arrested accused during last four months.

          He said that a crackdown on drug-peddlers was being conducted on daily basis in the district especially in the areas bordering with Rajasthan and Punjab. Police have registered 139 cases and arrested 215 people so far since the launch of special drive on November 23, last year. Crackdown on drug peddlers would continue in future.

          He said that police teams under the supervision of  Senior Superintendent of Police, Sirsa Dr Arun Singh has been taking stern action against those involved in smuggling of narcotic substance. General public in Sirsa is also supplementing the efforts of the police on seizing illegal drugs and tightening the noose on those involved in it. More positive results would come in future with the cooperation and assistance of people.

          In addition, Police is also making people aware  about the ill-effects of drug addiction and urged to ensure more involvement so that a drug-free society could be established. People should also come forward fearlessly and share information about the sale and use of narcotics to help the police to completely curb it from the society.

Meanwhile, in addition to arresting a youth on the charges of drug peddling, Haryana Police has also nabbed a bail jumper, a proclaimed offender and seven others involved in three separate incidents of gambling along with cash of Rs 15,780 from district Sonipat.

          While giving information here today, a spokesman of Police Department said that 665 gram of illegal ganja leaf has been recovered from accused Aasif. In the initial inquiries, the accused revealed that his motive was to bring illegal ganja leaf from outside and earn profit by selling it in retail. The arrested accused has been sent to the judicial custody as per the Court's order.

          In another incident, CIA team in search of proclaimed offenders, bail-jumpers and parole jumpers has arrested Ramesh alias Tauri, a bail jumper. He was involved in an incident registered in 2012. Similarly, police has also arrested Mahipal who was involved in vehicle theft incident in 2010. He was declared proclaimed offender by the Court in year 2015.

          The spokesman said that the police team, while in the search of criminals and anti-social elements, has arrested seven persons on the charge of gambling in public place. Of these, two accused each were nabbed with Rs 4,160 and Rs 6,120 whereas three others were arrested under gambling act along with Rs 5,500, he added.

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