DIMAPUR, JUNE 23 (MExN): The Dimapur Deputy Commissioner has issued notice prohibiting public meetings during the 48 hours preceding the ULB polls.
Under Section 12 of the representation of the People Act, 1951, (1), the DC stated that no person shall; (a) Convene, hold or attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with the election in any polling area during the period of 48 (Forty-eight) hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll; (b) Display to the public any election matter by means of cinematography, television or other similar apparatus; (c) Propagate any election matter to the public by holding or by arranging the holding of any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public thereto, in any polling area during the period of Forty-Eight hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for the election in the polling area.
Any person who contravenes the provision of sub-section (1) shall be punishable, with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both, the DC’s order stated. It further said that in this section, the expression "election matter" means any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election.
Menawhile, Clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 126 prohibits display of election matter through TV/Mobile phone or other similar apparatus. It further clarified that radio would be treated as other similar apparatus for this purpose and hence broadcasting/ propagating any election matter through radio would be covered under clause (b) and would not be permissible during the period of 48 hours mentioned in the said section.
This was issued for the information and compliance by all political parties and candidates of the ULB elections 2024 under Dimapur Municipal/Town Council and that the campaigning period shall come to an end at 7:30 am on June 24.
