Candidates should uphold right of individuals for peaceful and undisturbed home life

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 17, 2023

The District Election Officer, Ri Bhoi District, Nongpoh has noticed that extensive arrangements are being made by parties and candidates to arrange for rallies, mass events to be addressed by the Star Campaigners and Leaders.

The District Election Officer instructed all the candidates and political parties to adhere strictly to code of conduct for smooth and peaceful elections.

The order reminded prohibition of the display of any party branding (poster, flag, hoarding etc) on any government property.

But it is not restricted to roads, government office premises and boundary walls, footpaths, bus stands, electricity poles and street lights, lakes, public gardens and parks, power stations, public transport, public schools and hospitals etc.

No wall writing, pasting of posters, paper defacement in any other form, or erecting, displaying of cutouts, hoardings, banners, flags etc shall be permitted on any Government premises (including civil structures).

Any party’s branding (poster, flag, hoarding etc) may be displayed on private property only with the prior permission of the private property’s owner.

No Political party or candidate shall permit its or his followers to make use of any individual’s land, building, compound wall, etc., without his permission for erecting flag staffs, suspending banners, pasting notices, writing slogans etc.

Parties or candidates are required to respect other parties’, candidates’ meetings, hoardings and publicity materials etc.

Creating obstruction in or breaking up meetings and processions of one political party by workers of other parties OR creating disturbances at public meetings of one political party by workers or sympathizers of other political parties by putting questions orally or in writing or by distributing leaflets of their own party OR taking out processions by one party along places at which meetings are held by another party OR removing posters of one party by workers by another party is an electoral offence under Section 127 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

No party or candidate shall canvas within 100 metres of a polling station and such canvassing is an electoral offence under Section 130 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The local police authorities should be fully informed and necessary permission be taken well in time, of the venue and time of the proposed meetings.

Permission must be obtained for use of loudspeakers or any other such facilities for the proposed meetings.

The right of every individual for peaceful and undisturbed home life should be fully safeguarded.