MEDIA POLICY

Facilities to be provided to media persons for Coverage of Process of elections.

3.The above rules apply to elections to the

(1) Council of State,

(2) House of the People,

(3) State Legislative Councils and

(4) State Legislative Assemblies.

4. In the case of Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections, the corresponding rules are rule 13 and rule 28 of the "Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974" which are reproduced below:-

"13. Admission to place of polling - The Presiding Officer shall exclude, from the place of polling all persons except:

(a) the polling officers and other public servants on duty;

(b) the candidates, and one representative authorised in writing by each candidate;

(c) the electors;

(d) persons authorised by the Election Commission;

(e) such other persons as the Presiding Officer may from time to time admit for the purpose of assisting him in taking the poll."

"28. Admission to the place fixed for counting.

The Returning Officer shall exclude from the place fixed for counting of notes every single persons except.

(a) such persons as he my appoint to assist him in the counting;

(b) the candidates and one representative at a time authorised in writing by each candidate;

(c) public servants on duty in connection with the election; and

(d) persons authorised by the Election Commission."

5. Subject to the powers of the authorities competent to impose any restriction in pursuit of the maintenance of law and order, the permission of the Election Commission is not needed by any person, including media persons, for visiting and moving around in any constituency where election is being held and every person is free to observe the elections. Entry into the polling stations and counting centres is however fully regulated by the statutory provisions mentioned above.

6. No one can enter into any polling station or a counting centre as a matter of right except to the extent mentioned in the above quoted rules.

7. In addition to the persons directly connected with poll and counting, such persons as are specifically authorised by the Election Commission can alone enter the polling stations and counting centres. The exclusive power of the Election Commission to issue entry passes to persons including media persons, also includes the power to refuse an entry pass to any person if in the Commission's opinion, there are sufficient reasons to do so.

8. The subject of laying down standard guidelines for the facilities to be made available to media persons interested in covering the process of an election conducted under superintendence, direction and control of the Commission, has been engaging the attention of the Commission. The Commission has reviewed past experience in this regard and the requirement to address the concerns of the media for being able to cover the election process.

9. After a careful consideration of all relevant factors and in suppression of all earlier instructions in this regard, the following guidelines are laid down to be strictly and uniformly observed hereafter at all elections to the council of State, House of the People, State Legislative Assemblies and State Legislative Councils.



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