Public Servants

A public servant shall remain absolutely impartial during the election and he / she shall not indulge in any campaigning activities for or against any contesting candidate or political party.

No public servant shall subscribe in aid of, or assist in any way, any candidate;

The Government servant shall not himself speak at or take active and prominent part in organizing or conducting the meeting. Further, frequent or regular presence by a Government servant in meeting of any candidate is bound to create impression that he is assisting a candidate.

No public servant should accompany a Minister / such other political functionaries for electioneering except on duties from security point of view.

Police Officials engaged in law and order duties shall not be construed as participating in the meeting of any candidate.

While dealing with different political parties in day to day official transaction each public servant shall maintain absolute neutrality. While registering cases on complaint filed by different political group or contesting candidates or their supporters police will take prompt steps in most impartial manner.

Violation of Code of Conduct by any public servant will make himself / herself liable for disciplinary proceeding under rule 15 of the Orissa Civil Services ( Classification, Control and Appeal ) Rules, 1962. There will be concurrent action under relevant provisions of Municipal Laws.

Party/Parties in Power and Persons holding public offices

The Party/Parties in power whether in the Centre or in the State shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it/they has/have used its/their official position for the purpose of its/their election campaign, and in particular:

(1)  Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Ministers, Ministers of State & Deputy Ministers, Govt. Chief Whip, Dy.Chief Whip and Leader of the Opposition, MPs and MLAs, President and Vice-President of Zilla Parishad, Chairperson/ Mayor and Vice-Chairperson / Deputy Mayor & persons holding public offices who are provided with official perquisites and transport, shall not combine their official visits  with electioneering work and shall not also make use of the official machinery or personnel or transport or Circuit House, Dak Bunglows including the Guest Houses of the Public Sector Enterprises either owned by the State Govt. or Central Govt. for election campaigning directly or indirectly. Also the Political functionaries appointed as Heads of different Public Sector Enterprises of State Govt. and of the cooperatives will not make use of the official machinery or personnel or transport or Circuit House, Dak Bunglows including the Guest Houses of the Public Sector Enterprises either owned by the State Govt. or Central Govt. or owned by the Cooperative Society or by any statutory body where Govt. have share for election campaigning directly or indirectly.

(2)  Whenever the dignitaries specified in Para(1) above decide to address election meeting(s) in any area for political work connected with electioneering, the journey to such places shall not be performed in Govt. transport or vehicles hired for official use or the vehicles of Public Sector Enterprises including Cooperative Enterprises or any statutory bodies.  The role of officials will be limited to maintenance of law and order and affording normal security to them.

(3)  Except for normal development works and programmes which have already commenced, relief and restoration works as a sequel to natural  calamities and emergent nature of works, expenditure for which have been voted by the State Legislature, will continue; no new schemes/ programmes/ works/projects of any kind shall be started or announced nor any financial concession be promised by Government or any official agency which would have the effect of  influencing, directly or indirectly, the voters in favour of the candidate(s) of the party in power.

No policy decision be taken or announced by the Govt. which will help the party / parties in power thereby to influence the voters.

Any project, either sanctioned in the budget of any department of Government or in the Urban Local Body for which work orders have already been issued prior to poll notification but work not started shall not be taken up during the period of enforcement of Code of Conduct.

In case of doubt, all concerned are advised to seek a clarification from the Commission.

(4)  No “Bhumi Puja”,. laying of foundation stones or inaugural ceremonies in respect of works/ projects/ programmes, funded partly or wholly by Government shall be undertaken by Ministers or any public dignitary in any Municipality.  Such functions and ceremonies, even if organised outside the limits of the Municipality are prohibited if such works/ projects/ programmes are intended for the benefit of the urban areas and to influence the urban voters.

(5)  Government accommodation, viz. Rest Houses, Inspection Bunglows, Circuit Houses or Guest Houses of Government undertakings ( Central or State) and the like, in Urban areas, shall not be provided to any Minister of the Central and State Government, Members of Parliament or Members of Legislative Assemblies or Leaders of all Political Parties or their candidates after announcement of Municipal election till its completion.

However, accommodation can be given to Political functionaries who are provided security of the State in “Z” scale or above or equivalent by various State Govts under provisions of their laws, on equitable basis. This shall be subject to condition that such accommodation is not already allotted or occupied by election related officials or Observers. Such Political functionaries shall not carry out any political activity while staying in the Govt. Guest Houses / Rest Houses or Guest Houses of Public Sector Undertakings as mentioned above.

(6) Even if there is no restriction on providing Govt. accommodation viz. Rest Houses, Inspection Bungalows, Circuit Houses or Guest Houses of Central or State Govt. undertakings, Zilla Parishad Guest Houses etc situated in rural areas to different political functionaries of the State during the period when the Code of Conduct is in force, such functionaries shall not carry out any Municipal Electioneering work while staying in the aforesaid Govt. accommodation.

(7)  No advertisement or publication at the cost of Central or State Government/Public undertakings/ Corporations / Co-operatives etc. highlighting achievements, which will have the effect of influencing the voters in elections shall be issued/published.

(8) Electronic and Print Media shall not be used by any Political Party to malign the images of the other Political Parties or candidates to avoid ill-feelings.

(9)  Persons holding offices in various Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies, Corporations of State Govt. and Central Govt., Cooperative Societies shall not issue any advertisement requesting to vote for any candidate either in print or electronic media using their official designation. However, they can issue such advertisement on their personal capacity without using office logo or designation.

(10) The directions and restrictions contained in this Chapter shall also apply, mutatis mutandis, to Central and  State Ministers so far as these relate to them, to non-official Chairpersons and non-official Directors of Government Companies  and Corporations whether State or Central, Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons / Presidents and Vice- Presidents of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipalities, Mayors / Deputy Mayors of Corporations and Presidents of Co-operative Societies including Apex bodies and other Bodies and Authorities in which public funds are invested or to whom public funds are granted, notwithstanding the quantum of such funds.

Polling Area & Polling Day

(1)  All political parties and candidates shall co-operate with the officers on Poll duty.

(2)  No party or candidate shall, on the date on which a poll is taken, commit any of the following acts within the polling stations or in any public or private place within a radius of one hundred meters of the polling station, namely:

(a) canvassing for votes;

(b) soliciting the vote of any elector;

(c ) persuading any elector not to vote for any particular candidate;

(d) persuading any elector not to vote at the election;

(e) exhibiting any notice or sign(other than official notice) relating to election.

(3) No obstruction, annoyance or intimidation shall be caused to the voters which will prevent them from exercising their free choice.

(4) No liquor or intoxicant shall be served by any political party or candidate to their workers/ supporters on the Polling Day and during the twenty four hours preceding it.

(5) All political parties and candidates shall supply to their authorised workers suitable badges or identity card.

(6) Identity slips supplied by the political parties and candidates to voters shall be on plain white paper and shall not contain any symbol, name of the candidate or name of the party.

(7) The camps set up by a candidate beyond 100 meters of the polling station shall not display any poster, flag, symbol or any other propaganda material.  No eatables shall be served or crowds be allowed at the camps.

(8) All political parties and candidates shall co-operate with the authorities in complying with the restrictions to be imposed on the plying of vehicles on the Polling Day and obtain permits for them which should be displayed prominently on those vehicles.  Conveyance of voters to and from a polling station by or on behalf of a party or candidate is prohibited.

(9) Except the voters and authorised persons, no one else shall enter into any poling booth without permission from the competent authority.  Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Ministers, Ministers of State & Dy. Ministers, Chief Whip, Dy.Chief Whip, Leader of the Opposition, Members of Parliament (MPs) & Members of Legislative Assembly(MLAs), Presidents & Vice-Presidents of Zilla Parishads/ Mayor / Deputy Mayor/ Chairpersons/Vice-Chairpersons of Urban Local  Bodies shall not enter any polling station or place of counting except in their capacity as a candidate or voter or authorised agent.

(10) Any political party or candidate which/who faces any difficulty shall be free to approach the State Election Commission, the Election Observers ( if any) in charge of the area or the Election Officer concerned for redressal of their grievances within the parameters of the existing Law.

Meeting & Procession: Canvassing & Propaganda

(1) No Political Party or Candidate shall give any gratification to any voter or group of voters which may prevent the voter(s) from exercising their electoral right freely.

(2) No election meeting shall be disturbed in any way by any rival political party or its candidate(s) or sympathisers.

(3) Permission from competent authority shall be taken in advance to hold public meetings in public places and for taking out processions on public roads.  Prohibitory orders in force in public places shall be respected. Permission to use public places for holding election meetings and to take out procession on public roads shall be given by the appropriate authority on first come first serve basis.  Local police and Magistracy shall be kept informed of public meetings/ processions and their directions / instructions/ restrictions shall be obeyed.

(4) Character assassination of candidates/ leaders which creates ill-feelings and tension shall be avoided.

(5) Burning of effigies of leaders of political parties is prohibited.  Criticism of rival candidates on aspects of private life or of political parties on the basis of unverified allegations shall be avoided. No demonstration or picketing in any form before the residence of any individual or before Government offices shall be allowed.

(6) Permission from competent authority shall be obtained for use of loud speakers and in any case, such loud speakers must not be used between 8 P.M. of the evening to 7 A.M. next morning.  Use of loud speakers shall be completely stopped 48 hours before closure of the poll.

(7) A candidate contesting for the office of the Councillor / Corporator shall use maximum two vehicles ( three wheelers & four wheelers taken together) for each ward for his electioneering and the Political party concerned can use one vehicle for each Municipality / NAC and two vehicles (three wheelers & four wheelers taken together) for  Corporation as prescribed by the Commission. For use of vehicles by the contesting candidates and Political Parties detail instructions are available in the appendix.

Similarly, Car / Vehicle being used for electioneering purposes shall under no circumstances be allowed to move in convoys of more than three vehicles in case of Municipalities / NACs and four vehicles in case of Corporations from the date of publication of the final list of contesting candidates till the completion of election process in any Ward of the Municipality/ Corporation. This shall however be subject to any special security instructions issued in respect of any such individual. However, it is clarified that the convoy shall not in any case exceed three or four vehicles, as the case may be, of any person plus the security vehicles allowed in view of the security gradation of that particular person.

8) Display of posters/ pamphlets/ hoardings/ banners or writings on the walls of Govt. buildings/ Educational/Religious institutions/Shrines/Public roads are prohibited. Such display and writings can however be made on private buildings or lands or space with the written permission of the owners concerned.

If any Political Party or candidate indulges in defacement of public property the Election officer shall issue notice to the offender for removing the defacement forthwith. If the political party / candidate donot respond promptly, the district authorities may take action to remove the defacement and the expenses incurred in the process shall be recovered from the political party / candidate. Further, the amount also shall be added to the election expenditure of the candidate concerned, and action shall also be initiated to prosecute the offender.

(9) All printed materials connected with electioneering shall bear the name of the printer and publisher, so that responsibility can be fixed in case of publication of any documents containing illegal, offending and objectionable materials.

(10) No party or candidate shall convene, hold or attend any public meeting in any polling area during the period of forty-eight hours preceding the time fixed for the commencement of the poll.

General Conduct

(1)        No political party or candidate shall use any words either spoken or written, or commit any act or otherwise, which shall, on grounds of religion, sex, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community, create any disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will between different groups or communities.

(2)        No political party or candidate shall use, or encourage use, overtly or covertly, of criminal force or violence which is likely to cause fear or alarm or feeling of insecurity amongst any group of voters or disturb public peace or tranquility.

(3)        No place of worship, or building /offices / accommodation belonging to Government or educational institutions shall be used for election meeting/propaganda/workers’ meet etc.

(4)        No obstruction or intimidation shall be caused to a prospective candidate which shall prevent him in filing his nomination.

(5)        All political parties and candidates shall co-operate with officers on election duty.

(6)        All parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are corrupt practices and offences under the election-Law.

(7)        The word “Municipality” used includes Notified Area Council and Municipal Corporation.

The Government of Odisha in the Panchayati Raj Department have by order under section 12 of the Odisha Grama Panchayat Act 1964 published in the official Gazette on 23/12/2016 called upon all the Gram Panchayats except Dhinkia Gram Panchayat under Erasama Block in Jagatsinghpur district to elect Ward Members and Sarpanches for the purpose of constituting the Gram Panchayats.

The State Election Commission has appoints the following dates and time with respect to the said election:

Date: 6.01. 2017. Issue of notice by Election Officer under Rule 24 calling for names of the candidates for Sarpanch and ward Members

11.01.2017 to 17.01.2017 Issue of nomination forms and presentation of nominations

18.01.2017 Scrutiny of nominations

19.01.2017 Publication of list of validly nominated candidates

21.01.2017 Withdrawal of candidature

21.01.2017 Publication of final list of contesting candidates

13/15/17/19/21.02.2017 Dates of Poll and counting

23.02.2017 Declaration of result of Sarpanch & ward members

27.02.2017 Publication of names of elected Sarpanch and ward members

28.02.2017 Issue of notice convening special meeting for election of Naib Sarpanch

10.03.2017 Dates of special meeting and election of Naib Sarpanch and declaration of result

14.03.2017 Publication of name of elected Naib Sarpanch

The model code of conduct issued by the commission will remain in force from 27^th December 2016 till 21.02.2017 throughout the state

More than 50 people from Kusanpuri village of Barpali block urged the district collector of Bargarh to avail the homestead land promised to them.

As per the source, around 30 years have passed but according to the government provisions since a decade Government of Odisha have considered and accorded them homestead land as homestead less family at Mouza Kusanpuri, and prepared patta accordingly. But due to non declaration of U/s 41 of OCH & PFL  Act 1972 neither the Tehsildar, Barpali nor any empowered Revenue Authority have handed over the patta and physical possession in spite of several requests and also not allowed to pay rent of the land allotted to the beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries are demanding to avail them the physical possession of the land as well as the patta of the same.