MARGAO
Ahead of the bypoll for the Davorlim and Cortalim Zilla Panchayat seats in the district, the South Goa District Magistrate Jyoti Kumari has issued a prohibitory order under section 144 of the CrPC directing all restaurants, bars, tea shops, paan shops, eateries and other food shops/ joints (dhabas, gaddas) etc, situated in the Davorlim and Cortalim ZP constituencies within 200 mtrs of the polling stations on day of poll on October 16, from 6 am to 6 pm and the counting centres on the day of counting i.e. on October 18, from 6 am till end of counting of votes of respective Zilla Panchayat Jurisdiction in South Goa District, shall remain closed.
The order has banned any gathering or crowd comprising more than five persons within 200 metres of polling stations within the area of Davorlim Zilla Panchayat and Cortalim Zilla Panchayat.
The District Magistrate has further directed that the restrictions shall not apply to public servants on duty and bonafide marriage or funeral processions or religious processions/ functions. Also, the above order shall not apply to the authorised officers on Election Duty by the State government, including the polling officials, magistrates, police officials and government staff.
Failure to comply with this order shall be liable for penal action under Section 188 of the IPC and other relevant provisions of laws in force.
The prohibitory order has been issued on the ground that there is possibility of political disputes, confrontation, violence and breach of peace mainly due to misuse of hotels, restaurants, tea shops, paan shops and other food shops/ joints (dhabas, gaddas) etc, due to gathering of crowd at places within the vicinity of 200 metres of the Polling Stations which creates nuisance and law and order problems.
The Magistrate pointed out that Sections 171-B and 171-C of the IPC clearly disallow attempts of bribery and undue influence on any person and whoever commits the offence of bribery is punishable under section 171-E of IPC and whoever commits the offence of undue influence or impersonation at an election is punishable under section 171-F of IPC.
