Mokokchung, January 19 (MTNews): With the Election Commission of India announcing the schedule for the conduct of General Election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, 2023, the Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer of Mokokchung, Shashank Pratap Singh IAS has informed that the Model Code of Conduct has come into operation with effect from 18 January. It was also informed that it will be in force till the completion of the General Election.

 

Accordingly, the DC & DEO has instructed all administrative officers, Heads of Departments and political parties under Mokokchung district as well as the Superintendent of Police, Mokokchung to comply with the Election Commission guidelines.

 

 

The guidelines included Defacement of Government property, defacement of public property and misuse of public space, and defacement of private property.

 

Defacement of Government property

For this purpose a government premise would include any government office campus wherein the office building is situated. All wall writing/posters or defacement in any other form, cut-out, hoardings, banners, and flags shall be removed within 24 hours.

 

Defacement of public property and misuse of public space

All unauthorized political advertisement in the form of wall writing/poster paper or defacement in any other form cut-out, hoarding, banner, flags etc. in public property and in public space shall be removed within 48 hours from the announcement of Election by the commission.

 

Defacement of private property

All unauthorized political advertisement displayed at private property and subject of law and court’s direction, if any, shall be removed within 72 hours from the announcement of election by the commission.

 

‘Deposit arms at nearest police station’

Based on the instructions of Election Commission of India regarding the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct and inputs received from the police, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Mokokchung has promulgated urgent preventive measures including restriction on carrying of arms to conduct the elections in free and fair manner. As such, the District Magistrate has in an order issued on Wednesday prohibited the carrying of “any kinds of arms or ammunition by any person” within Mokokchung District. Further, all licensed arms unless exempted under law have been ordered be deposited at the nearest police station.

 

Further, to enforce the Model Code of Conduct within Mokokchung District, the District Magistrate has directed the following:

 

Use of public address system or loud speakers or any sound amplifiers whether fitted on vehicles of any kind whatsoever or in static position used for public meetings for electioneering purpose during the entire election period ending with the date of declaration of result shall not be permitted at night between 10:00 PM – 6:00 AM.

 

All political campaigning, meeting, rallies, processions in connection with election shall be held only after obtaining due permission from the competent authority and intimation to the concerned police station. Further, due permission shall be obtained for use of loud speakers and vehicles during the campaign.

 

All banners, posters, hoardings etc., carrying political symbols, photos of political leaders and any wall writing, defacement in any other forms, flags etc., on government property shall be removed within 24 hours.

 

Further, all unauthorized political advertisements in form of wall writing, posters, papers or defacement in any other form at public property and in public space like bus stands, roadways, buses, electric/telephone poles, municipal/local bodies buildings etc. shall be removed within 48 hours. The same shall be complied with at private properties also within 72 hours.

 

It was also informed that the order is applicable to all the persons within Mokokchung district except the Police personnel and the Security forces and the Officials/personnel involved in law and order duty.

 

“In view of the emergent nature, the order is being issued ex-parte and is addressed to the public in general,” the order read.

 

It was also informed that the order shall take immediate effect and shall be effective till the declaration of results.

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