Port Blair, Mar 27: In view of the General Election-2019 to the House of People, all concerned involving in printing of electioneering material viz. pamphlets or posters, that they should comply with the rule and provisions envisaged under the Representation of the People Act 1951, which exhibits requisite mandates for printing of pamphlets or posters during the election period, which is reiterated as under 127 A. Restrictions on the printing of pamphlets, posters etc.
No person shall print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any election pamphlets or posters, which does not bear on its face the names and addresses of the printer and the publisher thereof.
No person shall print or cause to be printed any election pamphlet or posters unless a declaration as to the identity of the publisher thereof, signed by him and attested by two persons to whom he is personally known, is delivered by him to the printer in duplicate.
Unless, within a reasonable time after the printing of the document, one copy of the declaration is sent by the printer, together with one copy of the document where it is printed in the capital of the State, to the Chief Electoral Officer and in any other case, to the District Magistrate of the District, in which it is printed.
For the purposes of this section any process for multiplying copies of a document, other than copying it by hand, shall be deemed to be printing and the expression “printer” shall be construed accordingly.
“Election pamphlet or poster” means any printed pamphlet, handbill or other document distributed for the purpose of promoting or prejudicing the election of a candidate or group of candidates or any placard or poster having reference to an election, but does not include any handbill, placard or poster merely announcing the date, time and place and other particulars of an election meeting or routine instructions to election agents or workers.
Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub- section (2) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to six months, or with fine, which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.
Therefore, all the printing press/house functioning in the UT, who cause to undertake printing of election related pamphlets or posters should be very cautious and adhere to the above scrupulously for strict compliance.