'Permission not required for private events'

Private events such as marriage, birthdays, house warming ceremony and other non-political programmes don’t require any permission from Election Commission said State Chief Election Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar.

Kumar was addressing a press meet about model code of conduct (MCC)for Lok Sab ha polls, here on Thursaday.

“People are approaching the district election officers and the MCC team for holding private functions. There is no necessity to take permission for such private events. There is also no need to take permission for public functions where politicians attend. These gatherings will be under the surveillance of MCC teams. Legal action will be taken against the candidates and organisers if the political leader misuses the event to lure voters,” Sanjeev Kumar said.

Kumar also clarified that documents were not necessary if people carry cash up to Rs 50,000 and gifts valued below Rs 10,000. He requested people to file a formal complaint with authorities if this rule is violated.

“In case there is any hindrance to people at the check posts despite having all necessary documents, such cases will be looked into by the committee formed under the chairmanship of chief executive officers of zilla panchayats,” he said.

In Karnataka, the commission had set up 702 check posts, 1,512 flying squad teams and 1,837 static surveillance teams to control illegal activities during the election, he added.

Clean cash

Following the orders of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Financial Service), the commission has passed few guidelines under the Standard Operating
Procedure (SoP) for the transportation of clean cash to banks.

The banks must ensure their cash vans carrying money to ATMs, other branches or banks should not carry any third-party money.

The banks should give details of the cash released by them (which is then carried by officials or agencies in the cash van).