Programme to conduct Panchayat bye-elections

 by Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, NOV 29  

State Election Commission, Haryana has issued programme for Conducting Panchayat bye-elections to fill up casual vacancies of 256 Panches, 19 Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats, nine Members of Panchayat Samitis and two Zila Parishads including second general election of Sarpanch and Panches of Gram Panchayat, Sambhalkha in district Kurukshetra.

          While stating this here today, State Election Commissioner Mr Dharam Vir said that nominations could be filed from December 4 to 6, 2012 and information would be furnished by the candidate to the concerned returning officer (Panchayat) in the prescribed format before 10 a.m. on December 7.Scrutiny would be done from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 7 and candidature could be withdrawn upto 4 p.m. by December 10.  The work of preparation of list of contesting candidates and allotment of symbol for elections would be done immediately after the expiry of the period of withdrawal of candidature on December 10, 2012.

          He said that polling, if required, would be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 16 and votes would be counted at the polling station immediately after the close of poll. For election of Member  Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads, counting would be held on December 17 at 8 a.m. except where re-poll is recommended by the District Election Officer (Panchayat) at Block Headquarter concerned at the places to be specified by the District Election Officer (Panchayat), he added.

                    Election of all the seats of Panches, Sarpanches and Members of Panchayat Samitis would be conducted by using Electronic Voting Machines. The model code of conduct would come into force from today that is November 29 . No officer or official connected with the election work would be transferred till the completion of election process, he added.

          Mr Dharam Vir  said that the country is facing the serious problem of criminalization of politics in which criminals, that is person convicted by Court of Law for certain offences are entering into the election fray and contesting as candidates. The State Election Commission has issued directions in compliance of the orders of the Supreme Court of India to the effect that a contesting candidate is required to state in writing about his criminal background, details of moveable or immoveable assets and education qualification. The contesting candidate for the office of Panches and Sarpanches would be required to make the said declaration on a plain paper before the Returning Officer concerned at the time of filing of nomination paper.Similarly, for the office of Member Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads, a contesting candidate would be required to file an affidavit on non-judicial stamp paper or document paper (Pakka Paper) and sworn before the first Class Magistrate or Notary Public or a Commissioner (oath) appointed by the  High Court or before Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) or Tehsildar or Naib Tehsildar - conferred with the powers of Executive Magistrate- having jurisdiction to the area.  Also, contesting candidate is required to make declaration in the nomination paper that he is not suffering   any disqualification as provided under Section 175 of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

          Giving details of the expenditure that could be incurred by the contesting candidates or his authorised election agents, he said that  Panch , Member of Gram Panchayat, could spend upto Rs 5,000. Sarpanch of a Gram Panchayat having upto 15 Wards and Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat having more than 15 Wards could spend upto Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. While, Members of Panchayat Samiti and Members of Zila Parishad could spend upto Rs 50,000 and Rs one lakh respectively.

          Mr  Dharam Vir  said," The contesting candidates are  required to maintain account of election expenditure and  submit the same within 30 days from the date of declaration of the result of the election, to the Deputy Commissioner–cum-District Election Officer (Panchayat) or  any other officer as  specified by the State Election Commission,  failing which the defaulting candidate shall be liable to be disqualified under the Haryana Panchayati Raj Election Expenditure (Maintenance and Submission of Accounts) Order, 1996, for a period of  three years from the date of issue of such order."