Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Oct 8: The East Singhbhum district administration has issued an important notice to all printing press owners—both large and small—and political parties in view of the 2025 by-election for the 45-Ghatshila (ST) Assembly Constituency. With the announcement of the election, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect across the district.
The notice reminded all concerned of the provisions under Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which strictly regulated the printing and publication of election-related material such as pamphlets, posters and leaflets.
The Act specifies:
- No person is permitted to print or publish any election pamphlet or poster without clearly displaying on its main page the names and addresses of both the printer and the publisher. 2. Before printing such materials, the publisher must submit to the printer a declaration signed by the publisher and attested by two witnesses, confirming their identity. 3. A copy of this declaration, along with the printed document, must be sent to the Chief Electoral Officer if the material is printed in the state capital, or to the District Magistrate of the district where it is printed, within a reasonable time after printing.
The Act further defines any process that produces multiple copies as “printing,” and specifies that election-related pamphlets, posters, or leaflets distributed to influence voters fall under its purview.
Violation of these provisions was a punishable offence, carrying a penalty of up to six months imprisonment, a fine of up to 2,000, or both.
The district administration has directed all printing presses and political parties in East Singhbhum to ensure strict adherence to these legal requirements. Any failure to comply would invite immediate action under Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
