Election Commission Issues Guidelines for Filing Nominations

Details

Port Blair, Feb 7: The Election Commission (UTs) has issued the following guidelines to be adhered to during the process of filing Nominations and thereafter during the Election Process.

1)  Political parties and the contesting candidates should strictly adhere to the advisory issued by MHA, MOHFW, Govt. of India and UT Administration from time to time.

2)  Number of persons to accompany candidate for submission of Nominations papers is restricted to two (02)

3)  Number of vehicles for the purposes of nomination is restricted to two (02)

4)  Returning Officer shall staggered time in advance to prospective candidates.

5) The entry of the political party representatives who are residing in any containment zone, to any office is strictly prohibited till the containment zone is de-notified.

6)  Door-to-Door Campaign- Subject to any other restriction(s) including extant COVID-19 guidelines, a group of 5 (five) persons including the candidate, excluding security personnel, if any, is allowed to do door-to-door campaigning.

7)  Road Shows and Election Meetings - No Road Shows and public gatherings/rallies shall be allowed till further directions from the Commission. However, Campaign convoy of maximum 03 (three) vehicles (excluding security vehicles, if any) may be allowed subject to the condition that the convoys should keep moving and no public is allowed to gather around these convoys.

8) As far as possible virtual meetings may be arranged.

9) The political parties and candidates concerned should ensure that all COVID-19 related requirement like face masks, sanitizers, thermal scanning etc. are fulfilled during each of these activities.

10)  Anybody showing COVID symptoms should be referred to the health authorities.

11) However, all the activities shall be governed by the instructions/guidelines/SoPS issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India and the A&N Administration from time to time.

12) Non-compliance of Instructions- Anybody violating instructions on COVID-19 measures will be liable to proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC, and other legal provisions as applicable, as specified in Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 29th July, 2020 of Ministry of Home Affairs, District Election Officer should bring this to the notice of all concerned.