CEO issues guidelines for printers, publishers of J&K

Jammu, Mar 18: Given the ensuing elections to Lok Sabha, the Jammu and Kashmir Election Office Monday issued guidelines concerning the printing and publication of election pamphlets, posters, and related material across Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Electoral Officer issued a public notice to all the registered printers and publishers of J&K, informing that the printing and publication of election pamphlets and posters were being governed by the provisions of Section 127-A of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951.

As per 127-A, restrictions on printing of pamphlets, posters etcetera, no person would print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any election pamphlet or poster which does not bear on its face the names and addresses of the printer and the publisher thereof.

No person would print or cause to be printed any election pamphlet or poster 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 and unless, within a reasonable time after the printing of the document, a 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 this section, any process for multiplying copies of a document, other than copying it by hand, would be deemed to be printed and the expression “printer” would be constructed accordingly.

“Election pamphlet or poster” means any printed pamphlet, handbill or other document distributed to promote or prejudice 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, 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) of sub-section (2) would be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months, or with a fine which may extend to Rs 2000, or with both.

It has therefore been enjoined upon all the printers and publishers to indicate clearly in the print line the names and addresses of the printer and publisher of any election pamphlet or posters or such other material printed by them.

Besides, all printing presses have to send copies of the printed material (along with three extra copies of each such printed material) and the declaration obtained from the publisher as required under Section 127-A (2) within three days of its printing.

Also, any violation of the provisions of Section 127-A (2) and the directions of the commission would be viewed seriously and stern action, which might in appropriate cases include even revocation of the license of the printing press under relevant laws of the state, would be taken.

Before undertaking the printing of any election pamphlets or posters, the printer should obtain from the publisher a declaration in terms of Section 127-A(2) in the proforma prescribed by the Commission in Append IX-A hereto.

This declaration would be fully signed by the publisher and attested by two persons to whom the publisher is personally known.

It should also be authenticated by the printer when it is forwarded to the Chief Electoral Officer or District Magistrate, as the case may be.

Likewise, the printer would furnish four copies of the printed material, along with the declaration of the publisher, within three days of the printing thereof, along with such printed material and the declaration.

The printer would also furnish the information regarding the number of copies of documents printed and the price charged for such printing job, in the proforma prescribed by the Commission in Appendix-B hereto.

Such information should be furnished by the printer, not collectively but separately, in respect of each election pamphlet poster, printed by him within three days of printing of each such document.