JOIN USBe vigil during night, DC tells officials
Addressing a meeting of district-level officers who are drawn into the election duty of taluk and zilla panchayats elections here on Thursday, he said the State Election Commission has given strict instructions to take action against officers who fail to take serious note of the violation of poll conduct.
They need to keep a watch on the expenditure of candidates, possible storage of liquor, illegal sale of liquor and other poll related violations.
The officers have to go through the nomination papers right at the time of filing nomination papers as it would check tension on the last date of filing nomination papers.
The voter’s list should be examined right now to avoid embarrassment on the day of polling.Gupta said the SEC has published a handbook on the code of conduct for the sake of political parties as well as the candidates. The same should be followed while discharging their duties during the taluk and zilla panchayat elections. The poll code would be in force till the midnight of January 6, 2010. However, it would not come in the way of execution of works for which the funds had been released before the announcement of date of elections.
But, no new work should be taken up in any panchayat across the district. The district minister or legislators are not allowed to chair the official meetings to review progress of various projects. The drinking water projects in drought hit areas or any other drinking water schemes could be continued in the district.
The vehicles provided to presidents and vice-presidents of taluk and zilla panchayats would be in possession of the deputy commissioner till the elections are over.
The DC clarified that they need not seize vehicles being given to legislators and MPs for discharging their general functions in both district and taluks. But, if they were found to be using their vehicles for the election related meetings or the poll campaign, then the vehicle should be seized. Any hoarding of the government programmes and containing the photographs of political leaders should be put on the government vehicles or KSRTC buses. The officials have to discharge their duty as per the directions of the SEC and strictly adhere to the poll conduct. Any dereliction would be treated as ‘in-discipline’ and action would be initiated against the guilty, he added.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr C J Betsurmath, SP Manish Karbikar, MUDA Commissioner P C Jayanna, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Basavaraj Malagatti, Excise Deputy Commissioner Manjunath and other senior officials were present.