EC tightens norms for history-sheeters

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 31

Candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls will have to give three advertisements each in the print and electronic media, giving details of his criminal record, if any. The development follows a Supreme Court judgment, said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, Dr S Karuna Raju.

The information, as an affidavit, needs to be filed in Form 26. It should contain details of criminal cases, assets, liabilities and educational qualifications of the candidate concerned.

Dr Karuna Raju said the declaration needed to be published in a prescribed format at least thrice on three different dates from the day following the last date for withdrawal of candidature and up to two days before the date of polling. In the case of TV channels, the same should be completed 48 hours before the conclusion of the polls.

In case candidates with criminal antecedents are fielded by political parties, such candidates are required to declare before the Returning Officer concerned that they have informed their party about the cases against them.

Elaborating upon the new directives, the CEO said the parties fielding history-sheeters were also required to publish declaration giving details in this regard on their website as well as in TV channels and newspapers having wide circulation.

Guidelines for postings

Chandigarh: No officer connected directly with the elections shall be allowed to continue in the home district during the elections, said the Election Commission of India (ECI), while announcing the transfers and postings criteria for officers and officials. The directions are required to be implemented by the state by February 28. The CEO said officers who had completed a three-year stay in the districts where they were posted also need to be moved out. tns