Himachal Chief Electoral Officer, Pushpendra Rajput on Sunday said that for ensuring free, fair, peaceful and smooth conduct of elections, the poll day on November 9 and counting day on December 18 have been declared to be observed as “dry days”.
He also said that as per the instructions of Election Commission of India, all the electors of state who have been issued electors photo identity cards (EPICs) shall have to produce these cards to exercise their franchise when they come to the polling stations for voting on November 9.
As per orders issued here, 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of poll from 5 pm on November 7 (Tuesday) to 5 pm on November 9 and the counting day December 18 (Monday) would be observed as ‘dry day’ as per provision of the HP Excise Act, 2011 and three kilometers of the respective polling areas in Himachal and adjoining to the state.
During all the days specified above, no spirituous, fermented or intoxicating liquors or other substances of a like nature shall be sold, served, given or distributed at a hotel, eating house or tavern, shop or in other place, public or private in Himachal Pradesh. No liquor shop, hotel, restaurants, clubs and establishments selling/serving liquor, shall be permitted to sell, serve liquor to anyone, said Rajput.
He said nonproprietary clubs, star hotels, restaurants and hotels run by anyone even if they are issued different categories of licenses for possession and supply of liquor, should also not be permitted to serve liquor on these days. The storage of liquor by individuals shall also be curtailed during the above period, said he.
The Chief Electoral Officer also said that if any elector fails to produce EPIC, he shall have to produce any of the alternative photo documents for establishing their identity.
The electors can produce passport, driving license, service identity cards with photograph issued to employees by central, state govt. PSUs, public limited companies, passbooks with photograph issued by bank, post office, PAN card, smart card issued by RGI under NPR, MNREGA job card, health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of Ministry of labour, Pension document with photograph, authenticated Photo Voter Slip issued by the election machinery, official identity cards issued to MPs, MlAs, MlCs and aadhar card.
Rajput said that if an elector produces an elector photo identity card, issued by the electoral registration officer of another assembly constituency, such EPICs shall also be accepted for identification provided the name of that elector finds place in the electoral roll pertaining to the polling station where the elector has turned up for voting.
If it is not possible to establish the identity of the elector on account of mismatch of photograph, elector shall have to produce one of the alternative photo documents mentioned above, said he.
The electors who are registered in the electoral rolls under Section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, based on the particulars in their passport, shall be identified on the basis of their original passport only and no other identity document will be accepted in this case, he added.