Asian Mail
Srinagar: Following an announcement by the Returning Officer (RO) for the 24-Zadibal Constituency on Monday, it has been mandated that all election campaigning will cease 48 hours before the polls conclude on September 25, 2024.
RO-24 Zadibal Constituency in an official notification said, “The schedule for holding General Elections to the Legislative Assembly, Union Territory of J&K, 2024 stand announced by the ECI and among others, the Polls in respect of 24-Zadibal Assembly Constituency shall be held on 25th September, 2024. In accordance with the provisions of Representation of People Act, 1951 by virtue of Section 126, it is hereby notified for information of all Political Parties, Contesting Candidates and Public in general, that all forms of election campaigning in respect of 24-Zadibal Assembly Constituency will cease/ end on 23rd September 2024 (Monday) at 06:00 PM i.e 48 Hours (forty eight hours) ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll i.e 06:00 PM on 25th September, 2024.”
The officer further said that attention is invited towards Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act,
1951, which is reproduced here under:
“126. Prohibition of public meeting during the period of forty eight hours ending with an hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll: (1) No person shall-(a) Convene, hold, attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with an election; or (b) Display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph television or other similar apparatus; or (c) Propagate any election matter to the public by holding, or by arranging the holding of, any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment for amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public thereto, in any polling area during the period of forty eight hours with the hour fixed for conclusion of the poll for any election in the polling area.”
Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine or with both, the officer stated in the notification, adding “in this section, the expression “election matter” means any matter intended for calculated to influence or affect the result of an election.”
It is also impressed upon all the stakeholders (viz Political Parties, Contesting candidates, Nodal Officers, FST to abide by the rules and regulations in force, the RO-24 Zadibal Constituency added.
