ECI sets up panel to look into cash seizures at checkposts

Mysuru: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has come up with various novel initiatives in the election for the Karnataka assembly, which will go to polls on May 10, aimed at increasing voting percentage in urban pockets, and avoiding inconvenience to the public.
This election season, the date for polling has been scheduled in the middle of the week, on Wednesday. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, while announcing the polling date for the Karnataka assembly, explained as to why the ECI has fixed the date in the middle of the week. There are chances of a section of the electorate going on vacation, if dates selected are either early or late in the week, by applying for leave.

Similarly, for the first time, a Cash Seizure Redressal Committee was set up to look into the case of seizure of unaccounted cash at checkposts, and to take a decision within a week’s time. In earlier elections, the cash was being kept in the treasury, after the seizure and booking of cases under provisions of the IPC, disclosed an official.
The owner or possessor of the cash was getting back the amount, if they produced relevant documents, only after the election process was over.
Presently, the district administration has allowed the public to carry cash up to Rs 50,000, and anything beyond the prescribed limit, the burden of proof lies on the holder to give an account for it, as the model code has come into force since March 29, otherwise it will be impounded.
An officer said if police find cash beyond the permissible limit, they will summon the election officers to the spot or checkpost, and initiate a process. Earlier, cases were directly booked for violation of the model code of conduct under the IPC, and cash was seized and sent to the treasury. In this election, a committee of senior officers has been formed to look into it and verify its authenticity. The public can now get their amount within a week, by providing credible evidence for the cash. Recently, a contractor who failed to produce proof on the spot, for carrying excess cash during police checking, was later successful in providing evidence to the committee, and got his money back.
Deputy commissioner KV Rajendra, who is the district election officer, said a Cash Seizure Redressal Committee has been formed, and that the ZP CEO is heading it. Since the model code of conduct came into force from March 29-April 4, till 9 am, about Rs 63.4 lakh in cash has been impounded in the district by the poll officers, as the holders failed to provide proof on the spot. The cases are being looked into, the DC said.