EC tells observers to fix time to listen to complaints

CEC Navin Chawla with Election Commisioners S Y Quraishi and V S Sampath addressing a press conference in New Delhi in this August 28 picture. Photo: V.V. Krishnan

In the run up to the October 13 assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, the Election Commission on Tuesday directed its observers to fix a particular time every day to listen to complaints of public and political parties.

In a directive to the 510 poll observers to these three states, the EC said every observer should fix a time slot, preferably between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., to redress grievances and complaints of the people and the political parties.

The time slot and location should be well published through local newspapers, the EC said.

The observers must ensure their availability except for such occasions when it was not possible for reasons of compelling and immediate nature, it said.

Since the areas assigned to observers posted in Arunachal Pradesh were very large, they should try and work out the arrangement to the extent possible depending on their location and the distances involved, the EC said.

The Commission has already briefed the observers on the do’s and dont’s to be followed by them for the smooth conduct of the polls in the three states, the first major exercise after the Lok Sabha elections.

The observers have been specifically advised to tour their allotted assembly constituencies extensively and build confidence among weaker and disadvantaged sections of voters.

Besides constantly reviewing execution of non-bailable warrants, recovery of illicit arms and collection of licensed arms from undesirable elements, they would strictly monitor enforcement of the model code of conduct.