Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 11: Chief election commissioner of the state, Sanjeev Kumar, has clarified that prior permission from the election commission need not be obtained for private functions like marriage, birthday party and sacred thread ceremony.

This clarification was issued in the backdrop of people making a beeline to meet the district electoral officials and officials of model code conduct enforcement squads to seek permission to hold marriages, birthday celebrations and other private functions. "Permission is not necessary for private programmes in which political personalities do not take part. But district electoral officials and model code of conduct enforcement officials will keep a close watch on programmes organized by the general public," he said.

Sanjeev Kumar warned that the commission will initiate legal steps against the concerned if political personalities are found to be distributing gifts during the programmes organized by people, or doing things like making food arrangements and extending any such lures to appease the voters.

During travel, people are permitted to carry cash up to a limit of Rs 50,000 with them without any documentary support. He stated that documents are not necessary if the gifts being carried are of the value of not over Rs 10,000. He explained that under instruction from the Central Election Commission, 1,255 check posts have been set up all over the state to check electoral malpractices and asked the people to cooperate with officials when their vehicles and luggage are being checked.

In case if the personnel manning check posts unnecessarily harass people in spite of providing all the documents and conduct checking in a way that is deemed offensive, committees headed by chief executive officer of individual zilla panchayats have been formed to scrutinize complaints which may be made pertaining to such instances, he stated.

'Suvidha' a single window system through which permissions and licenses relating to election are given within 24 hours, has been provided. Electoral candidates and political parties can make use of this app for obtaining permissions for meetings, rallies, vehicles, temporary election offices, use of microphones and such other permissions. He further said that changes have been made in 'Suvidha' to make room for coordination by various authorities and departments in the backend. This system is made available at the level if each electoral officer and each of the subdivisions. He however said that applications for use of helicopters and helipads should be made at least 36 hours in advance.

Kumar also stated that a system known as 'Samadhan' has been kept in place to enable parties candidates and members of the general public to give suggestions, feedback, convey grievances etc.

"Out of 336 the applications received in the state till April 9, 207 have been disposed off. The maximum of 66 applications were received in Udupi district, with Chikkaballapur accounting for only 44 applications," he stated.