Nagpur: In view of Covid-19 pandemic, the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) election committee has issued a series of directives to the contestants to ensure a safe and smooth election.
The panel headed by Bhanudas Kulkarni has barred candidates from personally visiting voters’ home during campaigning. “They are also not permitted to assemble in a group of more than five persons within the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court’s premises. Even gathering inside or outside the premises for the purpose of canvassing is not permitted. Social distancing norms and masks and sanitization are to be respected,” the panel said in a communiqué.
The panel, including former HCBA chief Arun Patil, Firdos Mirza, Prakash Meghe, and Sangram Sirpurkar, said that the candidates are to abide by the mandatory guidelines.
As per the poll schedule, the provisional voting list would be published on February 10. The deadline for submissions of objections on the preliminary list is February 15 till 4.30pm. The hearing on objections would be held on the next day till 1.30pm. The final voters list would be published at 4.30pm.
The issuance of nomination forms would begin on February 17 from 1.30am. Deadline for submitting forms is February 25 till 4.30pm.
On the same day, the list of valid candidates would be published later in the evening. The contestants can withdraw by March 3 till 4.30pm and their final list would be published on the same day at 4.45pm.
Membership fee payment date extended
The HCBA poll panel extended the last date for payment of membership fees. The dues which were to be settled by December 11, 2020, can now be paid till February 6. The panel clarified that there would be no further extension since provisional voting list will be published on February 10.