MOKOKCHUNG, JANUARY 6 (MExN): The Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner has directed village councils, being government agencies and auxiliary to the district administration under section 15 of the Nagaland Village Council Act, 1978, to refrain from any type of political activity and remain politically neutral at all times.
Non-compliance may invite disciplinary action under the relevant section of the Nagaland Village Council Act 1978 and other statutes, a press release from the Mokokchung DC stated.
The notice comes after the district administration noticed that with regard to the forthcoming Nagaland general elections, few public organizations particularly village councils have indulged in political activities by declaring their "consensus candidates” and issuing order/direction/ diktats to other intending candidates not to contest and/or hold any public meeting or programme related to election campaign within village jurisdictions.
It has also been noted that village councils have been issuing threats to the intending candidates other than their choice for ex-communication from the village along with other punitive actions as per traditional practices, the DC said.
The DC reminded that every citizen of India has the statutory right to participate in and contest elections subject to fulfillment of the requisite qualifications and any attempt to subvert the free will of a citizen is violation of the rights guaranteed by the constitution.
He further informed that announcement/declaration of consensus candidate by the councils/organizations and issuing directives/diktats in favour of the consensus candidates and/or agaist other candidates/voters violates right of the citizen to participate/vote as per their free will.
“Any attempt to influence free and fair election by any means or any attempts to interfere with the exercise of the free will of the citizen/voters on election matters is an offence under section 17IC, 339 and 340 of IPC,” the DC cautioned.
