NEWS

Election commission of India issued guidelines regarding attention of all media to the Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 that prohibits displaying any election matter by means, inter alia, of television or similar apparatus, during the period of 48 hours before the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in a constituency

WHAT IS IN SECTION 126

• Prohibition of public meetings during period of forty-eight hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll
• No person shall—
  • convene, hold, attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with an election
  • display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus
  • 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 or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public
  • In any polling area during the period of forty-eight hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in that 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.
• In this section, the expression “election matter” means any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election.