The Hindu : Front Page : Submit returns of poll expense: SEC

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Sunday, Sep 18, 2005

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Submit returns of poll expense: SEC

Special Correspondent

Those who fail to submit returns to be barred from contesting for five years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Election Commission has asked candidates to submit details of their expenditure on the election campaigns to the authorised officials on time.

The Commission said in an official release that candidates contesting for seats in grama panchayats and block panchayats should submit the returns of expenditure to the block panchayat secretary and the district panchayat secretary respectively. The Collector is authorised to receive returns from candidates contesting for seats in district panchayats, city corporations and municipalities.

The release said that the returns should cover the expenditure made by the candidate and his agent from the date of submission of nominations to the declaration of results, including both the days. The accounts should be submitted in detail along with the vouchers within 30 days of the declaration of results.

It said that the officer authorised to receive the returns would have the power to scrutinise the accounts. If the accounts are in order, the officer should notify receipt of the return within two days. The public would be entitled to examine the accounts at the notified place on payment of Rs.5. Copies can be obtained on the remittance of Rs.25.

The release noted that those who fail to submit the returns would be barred from contesting the elections to the local authorities for five years from the date of the order. The Commission had disqualified over 13,000 candidates who contested the last general elections and subsequent by-elections. They could not contest this time.

The Commission appointed 39 officials of Finance and Local Fund Audit Departments as observers to see whether the expenditure limits were being exceeded.

The limits of expenditure are Rs.5,000, Rs.10,000, Rs.15,000 and Rs.30,000 respectively for the elections to the municipalities and grama panchayats, city corporations, block panchayats and district panchayats, it added.

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