Schedule for bye - elections to fill casual vacancies of 64 - Dhrangadhra AC and 85 - Manavadar AC in the Gujarat State Legislative Assembly

Election Commission

Schedule for bye-elections to fill casual vacancies from 64 - Dhrangadhra AC and 85 - Manavadar AC in the State Legislative Assembly of Gujarat

14 MAR 2019

The Election Commission of India has decided to hold bye-elections to fill casual vacancies from 64 - Dhrangadhra AC and 85 - Manavadar AC in the State Legislative. Assembly of Gujarat.

After taking into consideration various factors like, festivals, electoral rolls, etc., the Commission has decided to hold the bye-elections to these 2 Assembly Constituencies following the same schedule as for the relevant Parliamentary Constituency as per the programme mentioned as under:

Sl No.	Event	Date
1	Issue of Notification	28.03.2019
2	Last date of making Nominations	04.04.2019
3	Scrutiny of Nominations	05.04.2019
4	Last date for withdrawal of Candidatures	08.04.2019
5	Date of Poll	23.04.2019
6	Counting of Votes	23.05.2019
7	Date before which election shall be completed	27.05.2019

ELECTORAL ROLL
The electoral rolls of the Assembly Constituencies where bye-elections are being held have been revised with reference to 01.01.2019 as the qualifying date.

ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (EVMs) & VVPATs
The Commission has decided to use EVMs & VVPATs in the bye-elections in all the polling stations. Adequate numbers of EVMs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the polls are conducted smoothly with the help of these machines.

IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS
In consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that the voter’s identification shall be mandatory in the aforementioned bye- elections at the time of poll. Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) shall be the main document of identification of a voter. However, in order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her name figures in the Electoral Rolls, separate instructions will be issued to allow additional documents for identification of voters at the time of poll in the said bye-elections.

MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
The Model Code of Conduct shall come into force with immediate effect in the district(s) in which the whole or any part of the Assembly Constituencies going for bye-elections is included, subject to partial modification as issued vide Commission’s instruction No. 437/6/INST/2016/CCS, dated 29th June, 2017 (available on the Commission’s website). The Model Code of Conduct shall be applicable to all candidates, political parties and the State Government concerned. The Model Code of Conduct shall also be applicable to the Union Government for the State concerned.

PIB

Announcement of Schedule for General Elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha & Sikkim, 2019

Election Commission

Subject: Announcement of Schedule for General Elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha & Sikkim, 2019.

11 MAR 2019

In continuation of the Commission’s Press Note No. ECI/PN/23/2019, dated 10th March, 2019, the following may be read as:

2. The date of poll in respect of Bye Elections for 18 ACs of Tamil Nadu, as mentioned at Sl.No. 14 to Sl. No. 31, as already scheduled for Phase 2(Two) of Election, shall be read as 18th April, 2019 instead of 23rd April, 2019.

3. In the details of Schedule No. 3, 4 & 5 in respect of PC (3-Anantnag) in Jammu & Kashmir, the Date of Issue of Notification, Last Date of Filing Nominations, Scrutiny of Nominations & Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidature, shall be read as 28th March, 2019, 04th April, 2019, 05th April, 2019 & 08th April, 2019, respectively only with Dates of Poll as 23rd April, 2019, 29th April, 2019 & 06th May, 2019, respectively.

4. Accordingly, the election schedule for Anantnag PC of Jammu & Kashmir will be held as per schedule:

1	Issue of Notification­	28.03.2019
2	Last Date of filing Nominations	04.04.2019
3	Scrutiny of Nominations	05.04.2019
4	Last date for withdrawal of Candidature	08.04.2019
5 (a)	Date of poll (in Anantnag District)	23.04.2019
5 (b)	Date of poll (in Kulgam District)	29.04.2019
5 (c)	Date of poll (Shopian & Pulwama Districts)	06.05.2019
6	Counting of Votes	23.05.2019

(SUMIT MUKHERJEE)
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

PIB

DoPT: Grant of Paid holiday on the day of poll - General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan, 2018

DoPT: Grant of Paid holiday on the day of poll - General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan, 2018

F. No.12/3/2016-JCA-2
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
Establishment (JCA-2) Section

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the January.24, 2019

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan, 2018 - Grant of Paid holiday on the day of poll - regarding

The undersigned is directed to state that, as informed by the Election Commission of India vide their letter No. 78/EPS/2019/163 dated 16.01.2019, general election to a State Legislative Assembly seat (67-Ramgarh) in the State of Rajasthan will be held on 28.01.2019 (Monday).

2. In this regard, the guidelines already issued by this Department vide OM No. 12jl4/99-JCA dated 10.10.2001 would have to be followed for the Central Government Offices, including industrial establishments, in the concerned State.

3 . The above instructions may please be brought to the notice of all concerned.

4 . Hindi version will follow.

(Raju Saraswat)
Under Secretary (JCA)
Tel. 230921 10

To,
1. All Ministries / Departments of Government of India.
2. UPSC/ CVC/ C&AG/Lok Sabha Secretariat/ Rajya Sabha Secretariat/ President's Secretariat/ Vice President's Secretariat/ PM's Office
3 . Supreme Court/High Court of Rajasthan / Central Administrative Tribunal
4. All attached and subordinate offices of Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions/ MHA
5. Secretary, Staff Side, National Council (JCM), 13-C, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi
6. Chairmen / Secretaries, Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee, in the State Capital of Rajasthan.
7. National Commission for Scheduled Castes/National Commission for Scheduled Tribes/ National Commission for Backward Classes
8. The Chief Secretary of the State Government of Rajasthan.
9 . The Election Commission of India, New Delhi w.r.t. letter no. 78/EPS/2019jl63 dated 16.01.2019.
10. Hindi Section, DoPT- with the request to provide the Hindi Translation.

Source: DoPT

GDS COMMITTEE REPORT - NEWS

GDS COMMITTEE REPORT - NEWS

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYYEES
ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION-GDS
1st FLOOR NORTH AVENUE PO BUILDING
NEW DLEHI - 110001

Ref: NFPE/AIPEU-GDS/AGTN/2017

Dated - 17.01.2017

GDS COMMITTEE REPORT
DEPARTMENT OF POST SOUGHT PERMISSION FROM ELECTION COMMISSION FOR PUBLISHING THE REPORT - DISCUSSION HELD WITH NFPE & FNPO - ASSURED TO PUBLISH THE REPORT IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING APPROVAL

INDEFINITE HUNGER FAST DEFERRED

Dear Comrades,
As you are aware, the GDS Committee headed by Shri Kamlesh Chandra, Retired Postal Board Member, has submitted its report to Government on 24th November 2016. Secretary, Posts, informed us that the report will be published only after getting approval of the Minister, Communications. Earlier, GDS Committee Report was published on the very same date of submission. 7th Pay Commission Report was also published immediately on submission to Government.

Protesting against the unjustified stand of the Department, NFPE & AIPEU-GDS conducted nationwide agitational programmes like protest demonstration, dharna etc. Finally we have given notice for indefinite hunger fast in front of the Directorate from 18.01.2017, by Secretary General, NFPE and all General Secretaries of affiliated Unions including AIPEU-GDS. After our hunger fast notice things started moving. Secretary, Department of Posts deputed a Senior Officer to the Minister's office to get the approval of the Minister. Minister granted permission to publish the Report with a condition that Election Commission’s approval should be obtained before publishing the Report, as Election Commission has already declared election to five State Assemblies.

On 16.01.2017, the Department called us for discussion with Member (Technology). In the discussion Member (T) informed that "a reference has been made to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and a response is expected shortly". We recorded our strong protest against the unjustified delay in publishing the report. The Member (T) expressed "the difficulty in hosting the report in the Department’s website on account of the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in view of assembly elections having been announce in five states". The appeal given by the Department to call off the indefinite hunger fast is published below.

In view of the above, the Federal Secretariat of NFPE and AIPEU-GDS has reviewed the situation based on the written assurance given by the Department and has decided to postpone the indefinite hunger fast to be commenced from 18th January 2017. Even if we go on indefinite fast or strike, Department cannot publish it without the permission of Election Commission, as the Department has already submitted it to Election Commission for permission.

We hope that the Election Commission will grant permission shortly to publish the Report.
NFPE & AIPEU-GDS has made sincere effort for compelling the Department to publish the GDS Committee Report and conducted nationwide agitational programmes. It is only because of our agitational programmes and indefinite hunger faster notice, the Department was compelled to get permission and also submitted it for Election Commission’s approval.

NFPE & AIPEU-GDS always stand with the three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks and we assure our GDS employees that if GDS Committee Report is against the interest of the GDS NFPE & AIPEU-GDS will declare serious agitational programmes including strike.

Fraternally yours,

R. N. Parashar Secretary General, NFPE / P. Panduranga Rao General Secretary, AIPEU-GDS

Cabinet may consider Budget on Feb 1 this week

Cabinet may consider Budget on Feb 1 this week

New Delhi: The Cabinet is likely to consider this week fixing February 1 as date of presentation of the budget after the Election Commission gave its nod in light of upcoming Assembly elections in five states.
Having decided to advance the budget presentation by a month, the government took the line that it should not be presented in the middle of Assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
So, it consulted the Election Commission, which has concurred with the finance ministry’s view that it is an annual financial statement and can come anytime of the government’s choice, officials said.

The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet on Wednesday or Thursday to decide on the date for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to present the budget for 2017-18.

The Cabinet on September 21 had in-principle decided to end the colonial-era tradition of presenting the Union budget on last day of February and advance it by about a month to help complete the legislative approval for annual spending plans and tax proposals before beginning of the new financial year on April 1.
“The reason we wanted to advance the date was that we want the entire budgetary exercise to be over and the Finance Bill to be passed and implemented from April 1 onwards rather than June because then the monsoon sets in and effectively, the expenditures start in October,” Jaitley had stated last week.

Stating that the government wants expenditure to start in April itself, he had said there are five state Assembly elections lined up in 2017.

“So, we are just trying to co-ordinate that you do not have to announce the Budget bang in the middle of an election date. It should be reasonably before that or after that,” he had said.

The finance ministry had been proposing that the Budget presentation be fixed for February 1 and the entire exercise be completed by March 24.

It wanted the Budget Session of Parliament to begin before January 25 and go in for a three-week break between February 10-15 before reconvening between March 10-15 to complete the legislative exercise.

PTI

Facts at a Glance Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections – 2016

Facts at a Glance- Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections – 2016
( Date of Poll – 16.05.2016 )

S. No.	Item	Number of Assembly Constituencies going on poll=234
1.	Total Electors	Male – 2,88,63,013 Female- 2,93,33,954 Others – 4, 720 Service Elector – 58114 —————————— Total – 5,82,59,801
2	Total number of Candidates	3776
3	Total Number of Female candidates	320
4	No. and Name of the Assembly Constituency with maximum No. of Candidates	11. Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar AC (45)
5	No. & Name of the Assembly Constituency with minimum number of Candidates	42. Arcot AC (8), 109. Gudalur AC (8), 161. Mayiladuthurai AC (8)
6	Assembly Constituency where more than one women candidate	80 -Assembly Constituencies
7	Party-wise list of  candidates:	Bharatiya Janata Party	188
		Bahujan Samaj Party	158
		Communist Party of India	25
		Communist Party of  India (M)	25
		Indian National Congress	41
		Nationalist Congress Party	20
		All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	234
		Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	180
		Desiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	104
		Registered and unrecognized political parties	1235
		Independents	1566
		Total	3776
8	Largest Assembly constituency Electorate wise	27- Shozhinganallur- (6,02,407)
9	Largest Assembly Constituency Area Wise	107- Bhavanisagar-2243.77 Sq.Km
10	Smallest Assembly constituency Electorate wise	163- Kilvelur- 1,63,370
11	No. of Polling Stations	66007
12	Number and Name of Assembly Constituencies where there is straight contest	Nil
13	Number of EVMs to be used in the elections	Ballot Units-107210 (including reserve), Control Units- 75908 (including reserve)

PIB

Election Commission Provides Complaint Redressal Mechanism- Call Centre & Web-Based Management During Ongoing Elections

ECI Provides Complaint Redressal Mechanism- Call Centre & Web-Based Management During Ongoing Elections

In view of the ongoing elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued instruction to provide a Complaint Redressal Mechanism in all the five election going states. The main objective of this IT platform is to provide the following:

i. Manage the complaints being received through call centres/telephone/online/fax/ post /paper complaints/in person in an integrated way and a time bound manner.

ii. Inform the complainants about the status of receipt and disposal of complaints.

State wise steps being undertaken by the Commission are as follows:

In Assam :- The complaints are received through (i) toll free number 1950, (ii) online application ‘SAMADHAN’ available at district websites with URL http://election.cloudapp.net/assam-samadhan and at CEO website www.ceoassam.nic.in (iii) Android based mobile application available in Google Play Store as SAMADHAN [ASSAM]. Individual can lodge complaints in physical copies in person/post/fax etc. and can still get SMS or view status of complaints if s/he wishes to.

In Kerala:- e- Pariharam has been lodged in Kerala to facilitate lodging complaints online. Complainants can also visit Akshaya Centres (CSC) and use helpline numbers. Complainants will receive SMS alerts while lodging as well as at the time of disposal of complaints. Photos/videos can be uploaded as part of complaints. The URL of website is: http://e-pariharam.kerala.gov.in

In Tamil Nadu:- In Tamil Nadu, apart from paper, phone, e-mails, online modes of complaint receipt, the complaints are also being received through Facebook, twitter etc. The option for lodging online complaint is available on website of CEO, Tamil Nadu: http://www.elections.tn.gov.in/

In West Bengal:- In West Bengal the IT platform is available at the URL: http://election.cloudapp.net/wb-samadhan . The App is also available in the form of mobile App at Google Play Store: SAMADHAN [WEST BENGAL]. The disposal period of complaints received has been prescribed as 24 hrs in general, and ½ hour on poll day.

In Puducherry:- CEO, Puducherry has established 24×7 helpline call centre with 5 dedicated trunk lines under supervision of an officer of Tehsildar level. Complaints are also being received through SMS, Whatsapp (8903331950), e-mail etc. The online complaints registering mechanism is also available for the use of public.

Through these Complaint Redressal Mechanisms, the Election Commission of India ensures that complaints at all level are properly addressed and timely redressed and the entire election process is made smooth, hassle free, transparent and effective.

PIB

ECI Orders - Grant of paid holiday to employees on the day of poll — Regarding

ECI Orders - Grant of paid holiday to employees on the day of poll — Regarding.

General Election to the State Legislative Assemblies of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Delhi and bye-elections to fill the casual vacancies in the StateLegislative Assemblies of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu — Grant of paid holiday to employees on the day of poll — Regarding.

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
NIRVACHAN SADAN, ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI-110001.

No.78/2013/EPS

Dated: 24th October, 2013

To
1. The Chief Secretaries to the Government of: -
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan,
Delhi, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

2. The Chief Electoral Officers of: -
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram. Rajasthan,
Delhi, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

3. The Secretary to the Govt. of India, M/o Personnel Public
Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel and
Training,
North Block, New Delhi.

Subject:- General Election to the State Legislative Assemblies of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Delhi and bye-elections to fill the casual vacancies in the StateLegislative Assemblies of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu — Grant of paid holiday to employees on the day of poll — Regarding.

Sir,
I am directed to invite your attention to Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act. 1951 which provides for the grant of paid holiday to the employees on the day of poll. The Section 135B is reproduced below:

“135B. Grant of paid holiday to employees on the day of poll.

(i) Every person employed in any business trade, industrial undertaking or any other establishment and entitled to vote at election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of a State shall, on the day of poll, be granted a holiday.

(ii) No deduction or abatement of the wages of any such person shall be made on account of a holiday having been granted in accordance with sub-section (I) and if such person is employed on the basis that he would not ordinarily receive wages for such a day, he shall nonetheless be paid for such day the wages he would have drawn had not a holiday been granted to him on that day.

(iii) If an employer contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) or susedion (2), then such employer shall be punishable with fine, which may extend to five hundred rupees.

(iv) This section shall not apply to any elector whose absence may cause danger or substantial loss in respect of the employment in which he is engaged.”

2. The above provisions recuire that all establishments and shops including those which work on shift basis shall be closed on the day of poll in the Constituency where a General/bye-election is to be held. However, there may be cases where a person is ordinanly resident of the Constituency and registered as an elector, may be serving/employed in an industrial undertaking or an establishment located outside the Constituency having a general/bye-election. It is clarified that in such a situation, even those electors including casual workers working outside the constituency concerned would be entitled to the benefit of a paid holiday extended under Section 135B(1) of the Representation of the People Act. 1951.

3. The daily wage/casual workers are also entitled for a holiday and wages on poll day as provided in Section 135B of the R.P. Act, 1951.

4. The Commission desired that suitable instructions should be issued to all concerned and a copy there of be endorsed to the Commission for its information and record.

5. The receipt of this letter may please be acknowledged.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Sumit Mukherjee)
Secretary

Source : www.eci.nic.in
[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/current/ImpIns25112013.pdf]