Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Wednesday asked all the officers across the State to ensure effective implementation of the action plan, issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), 72 hours prior to the date of polling in Punjab in letter and spirit.
At the same time, the CEO VK Singh also made it clear that the concerned officers would be held squarely responsible in case of any laxity in the implementation of the ECI directives.
The directions were issued by Singh while reviewing the electoral arrangements with the nodal officers of Police, Administration, Income Tax and Excise and Taxation departments of districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar, Faridkot and Bathinda during a crucial meeting.
The meeting was also attended by state Police Nodal Officer VK Bhawra, ADGP; Rohit Mehra from Income Tax Department and Gurtej Singh from Excise and Taxation department besides other officers of the department.
Singh said that all the officials deputed on the election duty should be fully trained and alert and whenever there is a seizure or any raid then the Income Tax department has to be informed accordingly.
He said that any confidential information regarding elections has got to be shared with the senior officers without wasting any time so that the effort to lure the voters with presents, cash or liquor or any intoxicants within 72 hours before the date of polling should be thwarted immediately.
The officers have also been asked to fix the prices of goods being used by the candidates so that the candidates could furnish the documents regarding expenditure details to the ECI.