Margao: August 8, 2017 … The District Magistrate and District Election Officer, South Goa has issued instructions to the owners and proprietors of all printing press establishments, political parties and public in general that they should not print or publish, or cause to be printed or published any election pamphlet or poster which does not bear on its face the name and address of the printer and publisher thereof.
The District Magistrate has also directed that no person will print or cause to be printed any election pamphlet or posters unless a declaration as to the identity of the publisher thereof signed by him and attested by two persons to whom he is personally known is delivered by him to the printer in duplicate.
The printing press establishments are required to send the copies of the printed material along with three extra copies of each such printed material and the declaration obtained from the publisher as required under Section 127A (2) of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951, within three days of its printing to the Chief Electoral Officer of the State if it is situated in same capital and in any other case, to the District Magistrate of the District in which it is printed.
The printer should also furnish the information regarding number of copies of documents printed and the price charged for such printing job, in the proforma prescribed by the Election Commission. Any person, who contravenes any of the provisions of Sub-Section of the Act, will be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.
In case of an advertisement, the source of which is traceable, it will be treated to have been authorized by the candidate or candidates concerned and will be accounted for in the election expenses account of the candidate or candidates and if the advertisement is not with the authority of the candidate, the publisher shall be prosecuted for violation of Section 171 H of the Indian Penal Code.
