KATHMANDU, May 6: The Election Commission (EC) has directed the authorities concerned to take strict action as per the prevailing law if civil servants refused to work diligently for the local level election to be held on May 13.

Section 7 of the Election Commission Act, 2073 BS provides that the EC may seek the assistance of any government or corporation employee for the conduct of the election. Likewise, Section 44 of the same Act states that departmental action can be taken against those denying to join assigned duties or not fulfilling the assigned duty diligently.

Polling Officers, Assistant Polling Officers, Assistant Staff and Counting Staff are to be appointed in accordance with the Local Level Election (Human Resource Management) Directives, 2078. The EC has directed all the Chief Returning Officers and Returning Officers to take strict action as per the prevailing law against civil servants who fail to report or fulfill their duties after being deputed for it. 

According to the prevailing law, departmental and other necessary action can be taken against employees who refuse to work in election-related assignments without a valid reason.

Meanwhile, the EC has said that all the ballot papers required for the May 13 local elections have been printed and the transportation of ballot papers will be completed in all the districts by May 6. Only seven districts of Madhesh province are left for transportation of the ballot papers. 

According to the printing officer of the EC, Baburam Koirala, 20.746 million ballot papers have been printed so far.

The EC has so far sought 24-hour clarification from 37 political parties and individuals for carrying out activities against Election Code of Conduct-2078 BS. 

It has asked Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, Trilochan Bhatta, to submit a written clarifications within 24 hours after the EC got the information that Chief Minister Bhatta expressed commitment to provide Rs 50,000 relief each to fire-victim families in course of onsite visit of fire-affected freed Kamaiya settlement at Kailari rural municipality-7 in Kailali district.   

Similarly, the EC has sought clarification from Chairperson of Election Observation Committee, Nepal, Pradeep Pokharel, candidate of chairperson of Durga Bhagwati Rural Municipality-5 in Rautahat district Dharmanath Chaudhary, mayoral candidate of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Keshav Sthapit, chairperson candidate of Melamchi municipality-10 in Sindhupalchowk and Amrit Khanal, Minister for Social Development of Bagmati Province, Kumari Moktan, among others.

(RSS)

 
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