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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Govt set to ban opinion polls before Lok Sabha elections -Pradeep Thakur

Govt set to ban opinion polls before Lok Sabha elections -Pradeep Thakur

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published Published on Jan 9, 2014   modified Modified on Jan 9, 2014
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: The government is considering a ban on opinion polls with the notification of Lok Sabha elections in line with the views of the election commission. The proposed ban may be implemented before the dates of the parliamentary elections, likely to be held in April-May, are announced.

In its draft legislation on debarring charged MPs/MLAs from contesting elections, the law ministry has included a provision that provides for a ban on opinion polls from the date of notification of polls. The draft bill has been circulated to other ministries for opinion.

A senior law ministry official said the draft legislation is ready and once views are obtained from other ministries, it would be placed before the Cabinet for its approval. The EC has already given a similar opinion favouring a ban on opinion polls and keeping charged lawmakers out of elections.

As of now, the EC has banned publication of any poll results before 48-hours of polling. There is already a ban on exit polls till the final round of polling is over.

The government is also considering seeking passage of the draft bill in the Parliament's special session it will convene in February along with a vote on account. Besides this bill, the government is likely to push five key anti-graft legislations for passage in the forthcoming session.

The government had prepared a draft bill on debarring chargesheeted lawmakers from contesting elections following a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking the apex court's direction to the government on the issue. The PIL, filed by Public Interest Foundation, has also prayed for setting up fast track courts for trial of such lawmakers who have been booked for heinous crimes.

The SC bench has posted the PIF case for final hearing on March 10 and has sought the law commission's views whether a lawmaker can be disqualified if any court has framed charges against him in serious crimes and also in case he files a false affidavit in declaring his criminal antecedents.

In case the SC ruling on debarring charged MPs/MLAs from contesting elections comes on March 10, it would be binding on the government to implement it in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

The government has referred all issues related to electoral reforms to the law commission, including the matter of disqualification of charged lawmakers from contesting elections.

The commission is yet to finalize its recommendation. Sources in the law ministry said the law commission is yet to conclude its consultations with all stakeholders and it may take a few months to compile its report.

The EC has been seeking a ban on opinion polls since 2004. After a round of consultations with all national and state parties in November last year, the EC once again wrote to the government to enact a law banning opinion polls from the date of notification of elections. All parties, except the BJP, were in favour of a ban.


The Times of India, 9 January, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-set-to-ban-opinion-polls-before-Lok-Sabha-elections/articleshow/28570976.cms


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