Kohima, January 25 (DIPR): In order to ensure that electoral abuses are effectively checked and not allowed to vitiate the poll process, the State Election Commission, in exercise of provision under Section 30 (1) of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, has directed that there will be scrutiny of election related documents, as listed below, by the Returning Officer and the Observer, in the presence of the Candidates/their Election Agents or their authorized representatives, at 10:00 am on the day after the Poll.
In this regard, all contesting candidates shall be given advance notice, in writing (under proper acknowledgement) about the scrutiny. In such notice, it shall be mentioned that either the candidate him/herself or his/her election agent or one representative duly authorized by the candidate may be present to watch the proceedings of scrutiny.
During the scrutiny, election related documents of the following polling stations will be scrutinized:
1. In all polling stations where any complaint of poll rigging, malpractices etc. was received by the RO or Observer during the poll process.
2. In all polling stations where any significant event (e.g. Change of ballot box etc.) was reported to the RO or Observer during the poll process.
3. In polling stations where poll took place in the absence of any polling agent or in the presence of the agent of only one candidate.
The RO and Observer shall do the scrutiny with utmost care and shall submit report to the Commission as soon as scrutiny is over.
The following documents will be the subject of scrutiny:
1. The Presiding Officers Diary. 2. Copy of Form 17 (Ballot Paper Account). 3. Counterfoil of Ballot Paper. 4. Envelope containing Tendered Ballot, cancelled Ballot Papers and spoilt and returned Ballot Papers. 5. Marked Copy of Electoral Roll. 6. Sector Magistrate/Sector Officer Diary/Report.
It is further directed that during the collection of Poll materials from the polling parties on completion of Poll, the reception counter should ensure that the above mentioned documents are NOT put into the Strong Room along with the Ballot Box, but should be kept in an alternate safe location.
