Pune Police Issues Prohibitory Orders At Nomination Centres Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections

In anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Pune city police authorities have issued prohibitory orders within a 200-meter radius of two important nomination filing centers Council Hall and the District Collector Office. These orders, effective from April 12 to April 29, coincide with the period designated for the filing, scrutiny, and withdrawal of nominations.

The Pune City police, responsible for areas under the Pune and Shirur Lok Sabha constituencies set to go to polls on May 13, along with Baramati, slated for voting on May 7, announced these measures. For Baramati, the Council Hall serves as the nomination filing center, while the District Collector Office fulfills this role for Pune and Shirur.

Under the directives of Joint Commissioner of Police for Pune City, Praveen Pawar, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure will be enforced within the specified radius of these centers during the stipulated period. These measures include restricting the number of accompanying persons during nomination filing, prohibiting rallies, marches, or speeches in the vicinity, and disallowing the use of loudspeakers or posting of messages. Additionally, only three vehicles per candidate will be permitted within a 100-meter radius of these centers.

Violation of these regulations may result in prosecution under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to disobedience of orders promulgated by public officers.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure grants district magistrates and officials with magisterial powers the authority to issue such prohibitory orders when there exists a potential threat to public peace and order.