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Cong moves HC against EC`s order banning posters, cut-outs
Mumbai, Apr 14: Congress today filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the state electoral officer`s decision to ban the use of banners and cut-outs during the campaigning for the current Lok Sabha polls.
Mumbai, Apr 14: Congress today filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the state electoral officer's decision to ban the use of banners and cut-outs during the campaigning for the current Lok Sabha polls.
The petition would come up for hearing tomorrow, Mumbai Congress vice president and senior advocate B A Desai said.
The petition prayed for an interim order to grant relief pending the final disposal of the petition. Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) has urged the court to give directions to the election commission and state electoral officer to allow Congress and other political parties to display banners, cut-outs and photographs of national leaders for campaigning.
The petition pointed out that in a meeting convened by state electoral officer recently, leaders of political parties present at the meeting had demanded that cut-outs and banners should be allowed to be displayed as these were essential ingredients of campaigning. The petition claimed that the state electoral officer had agreed to consider their plea.
The petition said that on February 23, 2004, Congress wrote a letter to the State Election Commission explaining that the model code of conduct permitted such display with the permission of the local authority. Further, even under the provisions of prevention of defacement of property act, 1995, the local authorities are authorised to grant permissions. MRCC contended that posters and wall writings deface the walls but cut-outs and banners do not deface any public or private property. Banners and cut-outs are immediately removed even by rag pickers as they get a value out of them.
Bureau Report
The petition prayed for an interim order to grant relief pending the final disposal of the petition. Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) has urged the court to give directions to the election commission and state electoral officer to allow Congress and other political parties to display banners, cut-outs and photographs of national leaders for campaigning.
The petition pointed out that in a meeting convened by state electoral officer recently, leaders of political parties present at the meeting had demanded that cut-outs and banners should be allowed to be displayed as these were essential ingredients of campaigning. The petition claimed that the state electoral officer had agreed to consider their plea.
The petition said that on February 23, 2004, Congress wrote a letter to the State Election Commission explaining that the model code of conduct permitted such display with the permission of the local authority. Further, even under the provisions of prevention of defacement of property act, 1995, the local authorities are authorised to grant permissions. MRCC contended that posters and wall writings deface the walls but cut-outs and banners do not deface any public or private property. Banners and cut-outs are immediately removed even by rag pickers as they get a value out of them.
Bureau Report