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Issue of Photo Identity Cards to candidates and election agents.

Election Commission's Letter No. 576/10/96/Judl-II, Dated : 26 August, 1996, addressed to The Chief Electoral Officers of all States and Union Territories (Except Jammu and Kashmir).
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Subject :- Issue of Photo identity cards to candidate and election agents.

I1. I am directed to invite your attention to paras 8.1 and 8.2 of Chapter VII of the Handbook for Returning Officers (1996 Reprint - page 91) wherein it has been directed that each contesting candidate should be issued with an identity card in the format prescribed under the said para 8.1.

2. At present, the candidate's identity card does not bear any photographs of the candidate. Therefore, there may be difficulty in establishing the identity of the candidate and there is also scope for misuse of that card by impersonation for a candidate.

3. The Commission has decided that in all further elections the identity cards issued to contesting candidates shall bear their photographs. For this purpose, all candidates should be instructed by the Returning Officer to furnish two copies of their recent photographs as soon as the list of contesting candidates. The identity cards of all candidates should hereafter be prepared in duplicate so that the duplicate copy is kept as office copy for the purposes of record by the Returning Officer. Photograph should be pasted on the top right portion of the identity card. For this purpose, the identity cards in the prescribed format should be got printed in adequately big size so that it contains sufficient space for pasting the photographs on the right top portion. Photographs of the candidate should be attested by the Returning Officer and his seal should be so put on the photograph that a portion thereof is affixed on the photograph and the rest on the identity card.

4. Further, the Commission has decided that an election agent appointed by a contesting candidate under section 40 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 read with rule 12 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 should also carry an identity document bearing his photograph. The appointment of his election agent is made by a contesting candidate in Form 8 appended to the said Rules and that Form is required to be furnished by the Candidate/election agent in duplicate to the Returning Officer who returns one copy thereof to the election agent after affixing thereon his seal and signature in token of the approval of his appointment. The said letter of appointment of election agent in Form 8 itself serves the purpose of identity document for such election agent at present. In future, all candidates may be instructed to affix the photographs also off their election agents on the right top portion of both the copies of their appointment letters in the Form 8. These Photographs should also be attested by the Returning Officer in the same manner as has been instructed in the case of attestation of photographs of the candidate in the preceding paragraph.

5. All Returning Officers and other election authorities concerned in the matter should be informed of the above directions of the Commission immediately for their information and strict compliance at all future elections.

6. These directions of the Commission should also, be given wide publicity among the political parties, candidates etc.

7. Kindly acknowledge receipt.



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