Chandigarh: Cracking down on misuse of
Short Message Services (SMS) during poll campaigning, the
Election Commission on Monday warned that those sending
"objectionable" mobile texts to the electorate ahead of the
October 13 elections in Haryana will face legal action.
An EC spokesman said the Commission has observed a
trend of certain objectionable messages being sent through
mobile SMSes in violation of the provisions of election
law and model code of conduct.
Police will initiate inquiry, trace the original
sender of such SMSes and take appropriate action under
relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code, Representation of
People Act 1951, the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and
instructions or directions issued by the Commission, he said.
However, the spokesman did not elaborate ons what kind
of SMS content will be considered as "objectionable".
In case of bulk SMSes transmitted during the campaign
for electioneering, the cost involved will be included in the
candidate's election expenses.
There shall be prohibition of transmitting bulk SMSes
of political nature for a period of 48 hours ending with the
hour fixed for conclusion of poll, the spokesman said.
Police will advertise special mobile numbers on which
the receiver of objectionable SMSes can forward the said
message alongwith the number of the sender.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, September 07, 2009, 17:58