ELECTION COMMISSION POSTPONED GENERAL
ELECTIONS TO
260 GRAM PANCHAYATS IN 17 DISTRICTS
Chandigarh May 17, 2008
The State Election Commission today postponed the general elections
to 260 Gram Panchayats in 17 districts that were scheduled to
be held on 26th May, 2008.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Election Commission
Punjab said that in pursuant to the directions of Hon'ble Punjab
and Haryana High Court in CWP No.7628/08 and other connected Civil
Writ Petitions. Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court in CWP No.7628/08
and other similar Civil Writ Petitions, the Commission has directed
that the general elections be also held to new Gram Panchayats
set up on or after April 11, 2008 in the 17 districts. Accordingly,
it would be necessary to postpone the elections in the parent
Panchayat (s) which were scheduled to be held on 26th May, 2008
so that elections to both the parent Panchayats and the newly
set up Panchayats were held later.
The Commission has directed that the elections to Gram Panchayats
falling in this category are hereby postponed and separate schedule
for conduct of elections to these Gram Panchayats would be issued
subsequently.
ELECTION COMMISSION DIRECTS THE ELECTORAL
OFFICERS
TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION PAPERS OF THE ANGANWARI WORKERS
Chandigarh May 17, 2008
The State Election Commission today directed all the Electoral
Officers to accept the nomination papers of the Anganwari Workers
provisionally as they have been entitled provisionally to file
nomination papers to Gram Panchayats.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Election Commission
Punjab said that in pursuant to the directions of the Hon'ble
Punjab and Haryana High Court in CWP No.8264/2008 and CWP No.8310
of 2008 All the District Electoral Officers–cum-Deputy Commissioners
and the Additional District Electoral Officers-cum-Additional
Deputy Commissioners (Dev.) in the State has been directed that
the petitioners (Anganwari Workers) would be entitled to file
nomination papers provisionally and their nomination papers would
not be rejected on the basis of circular dated April 30, 2008
issued by the State Election Commission, Punjab.
He said that in compliance of the directions of Hon'ble High
Court in these Civil Writ Petitions, the nomination papers of
the petitioners be accepted provisionally. Strict compliance of
the directions of the Hon'ble High Court may be ensured.
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STATE ELECTION COMMISSION, PUNJAB
S.C.O. No. 54-55, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh.
ELECTION DATE B0UND
To
The District Electoral Officer
-cum- Deputy Commissioner,
Sangrur.
Memo No. SEC-2008/
Chandigarh dated the 16th May, 2008.
Subject: General Elections to Gram Panchayats- 2008 -- Snatching
of nomination papers.
===
Reference Memo dated 16.05.2008 of the Returning Officer, Cluster-2,
Sunam District Sangrur.
2. Returning Officer Cluster-2, Sunam District Sangrur has reported
that on 16.05.2008 when he alongwith his staff was sorting out
the village wise files of nomination papers, the record was forcibly
taken away and thrown out. It has been stated that all this happened
in the presence of a police party. Further, it has been stated
that the nomination papers of which files were removed are in
respect of villages Veer Kalan and Assiwala. Returning Officer
has also stated that the police has registered FIR No.92 dated
16.05.2008. This matter has been discussed with the District Electoral
Officer, Sangrur and the Election Observer (Shri TR Sarangal,
IAS) appointed by the State Election Commission. Accordingly,
it is decided that the poll in Gram Panchayats Beer Kalan and
Ghassiwala is countermanded and therefore, postponed. Fresh dates
for the poll to Gram Panchayats of Beer Kalan and Ghassiwala (i)
Nangal; (ii) Thulewal; (iii) Gumti; (iv) Manal; (v) Thuliwal;
(vi) Mangewal; (vii) Hamidi; (viii) Gurm; (ix) Karamgarh; (x)
Thikriwal of Block Barnala is counter manded and the poll and
therefore postponed. Fresh date of the poll to the Gram Panchayats
. It is extremely shocking that nomination paper files have been
forcibly taken away and thrown out. Senior Superintendent of Police,
Sangrur shall ensure expeditious investigation, sake disciplinary
action against the concerned police officials for negligence and
un-satisfactory performance of duties and send a report to the
Commission.
(A. K. Dubey)
State Election Commissioner, Pb.
Endst. No. SEC-2008 / Chandigarh dated the
A copy is forwarded to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Sangrur,
for immediate action and report.
(A. K. Dubey)
State Election Commissioner, Pb.
--------------------------------------------------------
STATE ELECTION COMMISSION, PUNJAB
S.C.O. No. 54-55, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh.
ELECTION
DATE B0UND
To
The District Electoral Officer
-cum- Deputy Commissioner,
Ferozepur.
Memo No. SEC-2008/
Chandigarh dated the 16th May, 2008.
Subject: General Elections to Gram Panchayats- 2008 -- Tearning/
Missing of nomination paper files.
===
Reference your Memo No.5515 dated 16.05.2008 and Memo No.Elect.11015
dated 16.05.2008 of Addl. District Electroal Officer, Ferozepur.
2. Sub Divisional Magistrate, Jallalabad vide his Memo No.238
dated 16.05.2008 has intimated that the Returning Officer Block
Guru Har Sahai (S.No.917 to 929) has reported that some mischievous
elements entered his room on 16.05.2008 and torn of the files
(related to Gram Panchayat Mothanwala). The Returning Officer,
Guru Har Sahai (S. No.957 to 970) has stated that some mischeivous
elements entered his room and removed eight files. Both instances
have been put to the Police. Additional District Electoral Officer
has subequently informed that out of the eight files, seven files
related to Gram Panchayat Billimar one file eachrelates to Gram
Panchayat Chak Kathgarh and Mothanwala. Since the sanctity of
election proess has been adversely effected and it will not be
fair to re-construct the nomination papers as suggested by the
Deputy Commissioner, therefore, the poll in Gram Panchayats Mothan
Wala, Billi Mar and Chak Kathgarh is countermanded and therefore
postponed. Fresh date of the poll to the Gram Panchayats Mathan
Wala, Billi Mar and Chak Kathgarh shall be notified separately.
It is extremely shocking that nomination paper files have been
torn/ removed forcibly which indicates complete breachdown of
security arrangements. Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur
shall ensure expeditious investigation, sake disciplinary action
against the concerned police officials for negligence and un-satisfactory
performance of duties and send a report to the Commission.
(A. K. Dubey)
State Election Commissioner, Pb.
Endst. No. SEC-2008 / Chandigarh dated the
A copy is forwarded to the
1. Director General of Police, Punjab, Chandigarh;
2. Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur,
for immediate action and report.
(A. K. Dubey)
State Election Commissioner, Pb.
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STATE ELECTION COMMISSION, PUNJAB
S.C.O. No. 54-55, Sector 34-A, Chandigarh.
ELECTION
DATE B0UND
To
The District Electoral Officer
-cum- Deputy Commissioner,
Barnala
Memo No. SEC-2008/
Chandigarh dated the 17th May, 2008.
Subject: General Elections to Gram Panchayats- 2008 -- Negligent
and inefficient handling of nomination papers by Shri Sukhwinder
Singh, AFSO Barnala, Returning Officer (Cluster No.5) Block Barnala.
====
Reference your Memo No. 1955/ Elections dated 17.05.2008 on
the subject cited above.
2. The District Electoral Officer, Barnala vide memo under reference
has intimated that Shri Sukhwinder Singh, AFSO Barnala was appointed
as Returning Officer (Cluster No.5) Block Barnala and he took
nomination papers from the candidates before 3.00 PM on 16.05.2008,
the last date for receipt of nomination papers, but made the candidates
sit for about 2 hours and ultimately refused to entertain the
nomination papers on the ground that it was past 3 PM. The complainants
met the Election Observer and the District Electoral Officer on
17.05.2008. When the room was opened by the Returning Officer
and the Assistant Returning Officer, 26 nomination papers were
found from the drawer of table of clerk attached to the Returning
Officer. The District Electoral Officer has concluded that the
Returning Officer was not performing his duties properly to receive
the nomination papers presented to him before 3 PM on 16.05.2008
nor he informed his senior officers about this problem i.e. Sub
Divisional Magistrate or the District Electoral Officer. It was
a crowd of over 100 persons who met the District Electoral Officers
and brought this problem to his notice that these papers were
neither received properly nor time of receipt was put on the said
papers. He neither accepted or returned or rejected the nomination
papers. The District Electoral Officer has requested that a suitable
decision to postpone the election of 10 villages i.e. (i) Nangal;
(ii) Thulewal; (iii) Gumti; (iv) Manal; (v) Thuliwal; (vi) Mangewal;
(vii) Hamidi; (viii) Gurm; (ix) Karamgarh; (x) Thikriwal of Block
Barnala be taken. Accordingly, it is established that the Returning
Officer failed to perform the duties as laid down in Rules and
consequently the process of election has been vitiated. Accordingly
the poll to Gram Panchayat of (i) Nangal; (ii) Thulewal; (iii)
Gumti; (iv) Manal; (v) Thuliwal; (vi) Mangewal; (vii) Hamidi;
(viii) Gurm; (ix) Karamgarh; (x) Thikriwal of Block Barnala is
countermanded and postponed. Fresh date of the poll to these Gram
Panchayats shall be notified separately.
(A. K. Dubey)
State Election Commissioner, Pb.
