Collector and District Magistrate Mr. Vinay Kumar Langeh issued an order and instructed to strictly follow the Defacement of Property Act during the Panchayat by-election 2022-23. In the order issued by the District Magistrate, it has been said that for campaigning by political parties and their candidates, slogans are written on government-non-government buildings, banners are put up, posters are pasted and electricity and telephone poles are not used for campaigning. Related flags are hoisted due to which the appearance of government property gets distorted. In this regard, it is clearly mentioned in Section-3 of the Chhattisgarh Defacement of Property Act, 1994 that whoever without the written permission of the owner of the property, writes or marks any property in public view with ink, chalk, paint or any other substance. To do so would distort it. He shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to one thousand rupees. The order issued by the District Magistrate states that during the election campaign, if any kind of graffiti is displayed on the walls of any government or non-government building by various political parties or contesting candidates, are defaced by writing such slogans, flags related to election propaganda are placed on electric and telephone poles or government properties are defaced by placing such posters and banners, then to remove such posters and banners and to erase election slogans The Public Property Security Squad should be constituted at the section level with immediate effect. Adequate number of employees of Public Works Department permanent gang will be posted in this squad. This Public Security Property Squad will work under the direct supervision of the Sub-Divisional Officer/Executive Magistrate. To cooperate with this squad and to ensure action on the spot, the duty of an assistant sub-inspector police, headquarter patwari, and an employee of the panchayat should be imposed. The Public Works Department should provide all the necessary materials like geru, lime, kuchi, bamboo and ladder etc. to this squad to save the public property from defacement. If a private property is defaced by a candidate contesting Panchayat elections without the written consent of its owner, then after registering a first information report by the owner of the private property in the concerned police station, the Public Property Security Squad will take steps to protect the private property from being defaced. Will take action and the station in-charge will present the challan in the competent court after due investigation on the basis of the related first information report. The Sub-Divisional Officer/Executive Magistrate will register the complaints received related to defacement of public property in a register and after examining the complaint will direct the Public Property Security Squad to take necessary action if the facts are found correct.Like this:Like Loading…Continue Reading