Dep Election Commissioner reviews poll readyness of Punjab
&
strict implementation of the model code of conduct.

Chandigarh March 6, 2009

Shri Jai P. Prakash, Deputy Election Commissioner, visited Chandigarh on March 4 &5, 2009 to review the election preparedness of the State of Punjab.

He first held meeting in the Punjab Bhawan with the National and State recognized parties, giving time slots to them individually in alphabetical order. The parties made their submissions and highlighted their areas of concern. Some of them gave their submission in writing also.

Thereafter, Shri Prakash held two meetings with the Deputy Commissioners and the Senior Superintendents of Police, covering 10 Districts in each meeting. The ADGP (Election Cell), the IGs and DIGs concerned also participated in these meetings.

He first briefed the participants about the major aspects of model code of conduct and asked them to ensure strict implementation of the relevant provisions thereof. He specifically highlighted the need to remove unauthorized banners/posters immediately, to check misuse of Govt. vehicles/machinery/ officials, to have beacon lights/sirens removed from the Ministers' vehicles, to ensure videography of all events-capturing all activities of Ministers/candidates/important persons and to ensure action on all complaints within 24 hours. He also directed that all the vehicles at District level being used by Chairmen of Zila Parishad and similar other local bodies etc. should be taken over by the District Election Officers and these should be allowed to be used only for travel between home and office, keeping them parked in the District Offices at all other times.

Shri Prakash referred to a ruling by the Punjab & Haryana High Court and asked the field officers not to allow use of Colleges and Schools for campaigning. He asked the District Election Officers to ensure that except for the President, the VIce-President no protocol was to observed for any other VIPs. The Prime Minister would of course be accorded facilities as per the blue book. The protectees would, however, continue getting their existing security. It was also clarified that there would be no meetings of the Advisory Committees of MLAs etc. Shri Prakash then reviewed the preparations made by the Districts, gave detailed instructions for giving specified data to the Election Commission of India and Prakash then left for Amritsar for a firsthand feel of the situation in the field.

O/o Chief Electoral Officer Punjab
Press Note
Chandigarh March 6:

Six reports of violation of model code of conduct have been received today. This was stated by Miss Kusumjit Sidhu Chief Electoral Officer Punjab. She told that on the complaint regarding distribution of subsidies in Agriculture Sector in Bhatinda District, the Financial Commissioner Development has been asked to stop such disbursals and report. In response to the news item regarding transfer of certain officials, the Chief Engineer PSEB has been asked to clarify the facts of the case. Meanwhile, the transfer orders have been stayed. In the case of report from Chairman, Market Committee, Talwandi Sabo regarding distribution of meters by PSEB in District Bhatinda, the Principal Secretary Power has been asked to stop fresh distribution and send a report. As regards hoarding in District Mohali and Jalandhar, DCs of Mohali and Jalandhar have been asked to remove them immediately and send report about the action taken. On a telephonic complaint from Shri Netar Singh of Village Khunder in Nabha Block, District Patiala that Panchayat is carrying out new work of drainage and pavement of streets, the DC, Patiala has been asked to stop the work and send a report.
Regarding the newspaper item for Airport feasibility report at Ludhiana Secretary, Civil Aviation has been asked to send the memorandum of understanding alongwith his report.

SHRIOMANI AKALI DAL

Bairagi Mahan Mandal Punjab thanks Badal

Chandigarh 6 March: Four member delegation of non-political, secular and social organization - Bairagi Mahan Mandal Punjab (Regd.) led by Bawa Ravinder Nandi Secretary General met the Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday evening and expressed their gratitude for giving assurance to them for setting up a chair on the life and philosophy of great warrior - Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in one of the universities of the State.
The delegation also thanked Sardar Badal for giving assurance that in future the mutation of uncontested cases of land and property in the name of Mahants of deras would be executed by the tehsildars as per the past practice. He said in the cases where two parties stake claim for the mutation over the land and property of the deras would be referred to the financial commissioner (revenue) for a final decision.
Sardar Badal also directed the financial commissioner (revenue) to look into the matter and issue detailed instructions in this regard to save the mahants from the undue harassment by the revenue officials in the field. Sardar Badal also assured the members of Mahan Mandal would be given due representation in the district and tehsil grievances redressal committees. He also asked the financial commissioner (revenue) to examine the case of declaring the Mahants as owners instead of custodians of the land and property of the deras.
He also assured that Government would get the case of declaring holiday on June 9 every year on the martyrdom day of Bairagi Baba
Bandha Singh Bahadur under the negotiable instrumental act. Sardar
Badal also gave a sympathetic hearing to them regarding their other genuine demands also.
Secretary General SAD and Member Parliament Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was also present.

VIGILANCE NABBS 15 NGOs
NINE CONVICTED IN GRAFT CASES
Chandigarh March 5:
State Vigilance Bureau, in a drive against corruption in public life, arrested 15 Non-Gazzetted Officers (NGOs) and a private person in fifteen different cases in last month and was able to secure the conviction of nine accused in ninevigilance cases.
Disclosing this here today, Mr. Harcharn Singh Bhullar, SSP-cum-Joint Director (Admn.) Vigilance Bureau Punjab, said that Bureau has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere in the State. In this direction, the Vigilance officers have registered trap cases, disproportionate assets cases and criminal cases and ensured that suspect did not escape judicial punishment in the various courts in the State.
Mr. Bhullar added that during the last month of February, the Vigilance had nabbed fifteen corrupt public servants which included five revenue officials and three PSEB employees red handed accepting bribes in different cases. During this period VB had registered a vigilance enquiry and seven criminal cases against the suspect officials to probe into the allegations.
Giving details he added that the special courts have sentenced nine NGOs in nine different vigilance cases after finding them guilty for one year to two years imprisonment which included three revenue officials and three PSEB offcials.