Poll panel stops, then allows Punjab relief payment (Lead)
December 29th, 2011 - 10:07 pm ICT by IANSChandigarh, Dec 29 (IANS) Within hours of having stopped the payment of relief funds to flood-affected people in poll-bound Punjab, the Election Commission (EC) Thursday evening reversed its decision and allowed the disbursement but with a rider.
In its latest order, the poll panel said the disbursement of relief funds would be allowed but only if it is done by officers of the state and not by any political leader.
The commission also allowed giving of compensation to the farmers whose land was earlier acquired by the state government.
The EC had earlier Thursday deferred the payment of relief funds in Punjab till the election process in the state is over, a senior election officer said here.
The relief funds were mainly for flood relief in certain districts.
Chief electoral officer (CEO) Kusumjit Sidhu said that after reports were received that ration cards and other cards under various schemes with the pictures of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were being distributed in Bathinda district, this was also ordered to be stopped immediately.
She said that a few sewing machines, carrying the photos of the chief minister, were also taken into custody in Chamkaur Sahib where they were allegedly being distributed.
Sidhu said that returning officers of 11 places were being shifted “on personal as well as administrative grounds”.
Elections to the 117-member assembly in Punjab will be held Jan 30.
- Poll panel stops relief funds payment in Punjab - Dec 29, 2011
- Election Commission is winner in Punjab polls (Punjab Newsletter) - Feb 04, 2012
- Record voting in Punjab, nearly 77 cast franchise (Intro Roundup) - Jan 31, 2012
- Poll panel transfers 18 Punjab officials - Dec 27, 2011
- Over 77 percent voting in Punjab, one killed in violence (Roundup) - Jan 30, 2012
- Punjab polls turnout 78.67 percent, re-poll in one booth - Jan 31, 2012
- Hours before poll panel's arrival, Rs.85 lakh seized in Punjab - Dec 26, 2011
- Poll panel disbands Punjab flying squads - Feb 02, 2012
- Punjab voters' lists to include mobile phone numbers - May 26, 2011
- Poll panel rejects Punjab's octroi abolition, more cash seized - Dec 27, 2011
- Poll panel watching! Punjab goes low on ladoos, posters (Punjab Newsletter) - Jan 21, 2012
- 1.76 crore Punjab residents to vote Monday - Jan 29, 2012
- Quraishi reacts strongly to Badal's remarks on jurisdiction (Roundup) - Jan 03, 2012
- Meeting in Delhi on security for poll-bound states - Mar 24, 2011
- Punjab, Uttarakhand register record polling (Roundup) - Jan 31, 2012
Tags: badal, ceo, chief electoral officer, chief minister, disbursement, ec, election commission, election officer, elections, farmers, flood relief, member assembly, political leader, poll, ration cards, returning officers, sahib, sewing machines, sidhu, state government