State Election Department decides 88 percent complaints : CEO

Chief Electoral Officer, Maneesh Garg while detailing complaints received since the enforcement of Model Code of Conduct, stated that out of 1406 complaints received till date, 1235 have been decided. At the State and district contact center(toll free number 1950), 778 complaints were received out of which 691 were resolved. Besides this, 349 complaints were received through the State and district MCC Nodal officers out of which 266 were resolved and 279 complaints received through C-vigil App were decided within the time frame after getting the inquiries conducted and necessary action was taken where violations were found, thus deciding 88 percent of the complaints received so far.  Some of the prominent cases where action was taken are:

– A FIR has been registered under section 341 and 323 IPC at Kaza in Lahaul & Spiti on the complaint filed by the BJP, for obstructing the rally of their Lok Sabha contesting candidate from Mandi Parliamentary constituency and investigation was underway. Also, notice has been issued by the Returning officer cum SDM against the youth congress.

– On the complaint by BJP regarding posting objectionable material of Ms Kangna Ranaut on the Facebook account by user ‘Hamirpur Congress Youth Club’, the matter has been forwarded to Election Commission of India with detailed inquiry report along-with a request to remove the post.

– Multiple complaints were received from the legal cell of Congress party against the Lok Sabha BJP candidate, Ms Kangana Ranaut charging her with violation of MCC in her speeches while addressing election rallies and passing personal remarks against Vikramaditya Singh, the INC candidate. Notices were issued by DEO/ DC Mandi and Kullu and further action is being taken. An Inquiry Report in this regard has also been sent to ECI.

– DC Mandi has been directed to take action against Ms Kangna Ranaut for her public announcement regarding the medical treatment of a girl who was severely injured in an attack with a sharp edged weapon at Palampur bus stand.

-Yet another notice has also been issued to Ms Kangna Ranaut by DC Mandi for her religious remarks during campaigning at different areas in Mandi.

–  On a complaint filed by BJP against INC candidate, Sh Vikramaditya Singh for making derogatory remarks against Ms Kangna Ranaut, inquiry has been made and report has been sent to Election Commission of India.

– Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur filed a complaint on ‘Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh- Samman Nidhi Yojna’, wherein directions were issued to the department of Social Justice and Empowerment not to select new beneficiaries during the code of conduct and not to give undue publicity at any level.

– On a complaint filed by Sh Jai Ram Thakur, all the hoardings installed by the Public Relations department  at different places in the State, displaying government schemes were removed within no time.

– Sh Jagat Singh Negi also complained against Jai Ram Thakur for holding a press conference in the campus of Vidhan Sabha wherein a notice was served to the former Chief Minister.

– A complaint was also received from the Legal cell of INC against the Facebook page ‘Shri Jai Ram Thakur 4 CM Himachal’ for violation of Model code of Conduct by making highly derogatory remarks against the congress workers and outraging the modesty of pregnant women. DGP, Himachal Pradesh has been requested to lodge FIR and take appropriate action at the earliest.

– Congress filed a complaint regarding the circulating fabricated appearance of Sh Rahul Gandhi, former President of INC through social media post ‘Bol Himachal’ in which FIR was registered  under various sections of IPC and section 125 of RP Act 1951 in Sadar Police Station Shimla. Notice has also been given to social media platforms to get details of the account under S 91 of CRPC.

– Sh Randeep Singh Surjewala also filed a complaint against Hamirpur Lok Sabha Candidate Anurag Thakur for violation of MCC, which was inquired into and notice given to the organisers. Report along-with the transcript of the speech has been sent to ECI for necessary action.

  – Complaints were received against MLA, Sanjay rattan and Congress candidate from Gagret Rakesh Kalia for invoking religious sentiments and notice has been issued and reply has been sought from them.

– A complaint was also filed against the Chief Minister, Sh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu by State BJP for using derogatory remarks against a BJP candidate in Una wherein the report with transcript of the speech has been sent to ECI for further action.

– INC Legal coordinator also filed complaints against social media page ‘bjp4himachal’ and ‘Yuva Bharat’ for violation of MCC wherein notices have been issued to LEA Facebook and Instagram.

– Employees who had a stay of more than 3 years were transferred outside the district which includes Project Officer, DRDA, Kullu, SHO, Paonta Sahib, Commandant Home guard Hamirpur, BDO Bijhari. There was also a complaint against BDO Paonta Sahib and XEV JSV Ghumarwin and concerned DEOs were directed to keep close watch on their activities.

·        On complaint against Joint Secretary GAD, the Chief Secretary was requested to take appropriate disciplinary action as per service rules.

·      On a complaint against BJP IT Cell for fabricating and editing of video of INC candidate for Mandi PC, the instructions have been issued to DEO (DC) Mandi to take action as per law and matter also referred to ECI with a request to take down the fabricated video.

•         On a complaint against Shastri, GHS Malgaon, District Sirmour, after inquiry and seeking reports, the DEO(DC) Sirmour was asked to initiate disciplinary action against the teacher for participating in the election campaign of a political party, following which he has been put under suspension.

•  DEO & RO Shimla has been directed not to assign any election related work to re-employed Assistant Engineer HPPWD in Jubbal-Kotkhai Assembly Segment.

•  On a complaint against re-employment of Chief Engineer, (C/M), the Director HPSEBL Shimla-4 has been directed to keep the same on hold during the MCC.

•   On a complaint regarding holding a meeting for business promotion during MCC, a report was sought from the Mission Director cum Director Tourism and consequentially the meeting was cancelled.

•  On a complaint against Assistant Professor (Musical Vocal) GDC Kullu for his involvement in political activities, the Secretary (Education), Govt of HP has been directed to initiate disciplinary action against the official.

•  On a complaint against Senior Executive Engineer, HPSEBL Ghumarwin, the Director (Personnel) HPSEBL has been directed to transfer the officer out of District and also inquire into his conduct as per Service Rules.

 Parties and candidates have shared copies of advisory issued by ECI on 1st March regarding speeches/utterances in violation of MCC guidelines.                                                                                                                    – On a complaint against re-employed Kanungo in Ghumarwin, ACS(Revenue) has been asked to review his re-employment orders due to his involvement with a political party.

He stated that prompt action was being taken on all the complaints and no major complaint was pending except where inquiry was going on and the report was awaited.