Digital payments under EC lens
[ad_1]
Digital cash transactions (throughout Assembly polls), which come under the purview of the Election Commission, shall be monitored and motion shall be taken as per the usual working process, Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo mentioned right here on Saturday.
Addressing a press convention, Mr. Sahoo mentioned, “Already, a State-level committee has been formed; we held a meeting with officials of the Income Tax, Customs, Enforcement Directorate, the Reserve Bank of India and banks. SOPs are coming from the EC, based on which we will act on transactions that come under the purview of the Commission,” he mentioned. This is a part of the measure to test distribution of cash to voters by the digital mode.
Mr. Sahoo didn’t see something unsuitable in political events launching their marketing campaign earlier than the announcement of the election date. “The Model Code of Conduct will come into effect after the date of election is announced but even otherwise there are certain rules. But there is no bar on parties campaigning,” he mentioned.
On the criticism in opposition to events on the difficulty, Mr. Sahoo mentioned there have been some complaints, and motion had been taken as per the EC’s pointers.
When it was identified that events have been making guarantees, Mr. Sahoo mentioned: “If there is anything against the law, the EC will give us suitable directions.”
Elaborating on the preparations for the Assembly election, Mr. Sahoo mentioned the primary degree checking of digital voting machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) gadgets by BEL engineers had been accomplished in 26 districts. The train can be accomplished within the different districts by February 5.
About the potential for the Assembly election being held in March, Mr. Sahoo mentioned he had no such data.
He identified that the time period of the present Assembly would finish on May 24 and the EC would finalise the dates accordingly.
At an interplay with a high-level delegation of the EC in Chennai lately, virtually all events have been in favour of holding the Assembly election in a single section, and the Commission would take this into consideration whereas taking a choice.
Staff requirement
Mr. Sahoo, who was right here to examine a four-day coaching programme for 118 returning officers from 20 districts, mentioned the district election officers have been assessing the manpower requirement for conducting the election and would put together an inventory of employees from out there Central and State authorities departments and the general public sector items of their districts.
There was nonetheless time to rectify errors in electoral rolls. Inclusions and deletions may be executed until 10 days previous to the final date for submitting of nominations. Senior residents had the choice of voting by postal poll. However, they have been additionally free to forged their votes on the polling stations.
