Restriction imposed on printing of pamphlets & posters by Assam Election commission

February 27: Restrictions on printing and publishing election pamphlets and posters was imposed on Wednesday by the State Election Commission (SEC), Assam. The restrictions were imposed under the Representation of People’s Act, 1951. This was issued keeping in mind the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.

The guidelines regarding the restrictions were issued for information of the  printing houses and political parties and their representatives. It was further stated that any person found contravening the provisions will be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and imposition of a fine of Rs 2000. The following are the guidelines issued by the SEC:

• No person shall print/publish or cause to be printed/published, any election pamphlet or poster which does not bear on its face the names and addresses of the printer
• No person shall print or cause to be printed any election pamphlet or poster- (i) unless a declaration as to the identity of the publisher signed by him and attested by two persons to whom he is personally known (ii) 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

• 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 constructed accordingly
• “Election pamphlet or poster” means any printed pamphlet, handbill or other document distributed