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NEW
DELHI : The Election Commission today barred print, electronic
or any other media from publishing, publicizing or disseminating
results of any opinion poll or exit poll conducted at any
time in the 48 hours until the end of polling in a single
phase.
In
an order, the Commission also said in a multi-phased election,
and in the case of elections in different States announced
simultaneously, no results will be published in the 48 hours
until the end of polling in the first phase of the election
and till the poll is concluded in all the phases in all States.
It
specified that electronic media includes Radio and Television
- both private and Government-owned, and covers Satellite/DTH,
Terrestrial and Cable Channels. Dissemination includes publication
in any newspaper, magazine or periodical, or display on electronic
media, or circulation by means of any pamphlet, poster, placard,
handbill or any other document.
The
decision by the Commission follows an order by the Supreme
Court in a writ petition challenging exit polls, in which
the apex court said on 19 January that it was adjourning the
case ‘in view of the pending legislation which, we are
told, has already been initiated by the Rajya Sabha’.
But
the Court made it clear that in the meantime, the Commission
would be at liberty to issue any other appropriate direction.
The
Commission said that in pursuance of the Court directive,
the order was being issued with regard to dissemination of
results of opinion polls and exit polls regarding elections
to the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies of States/Union
Territories, by any media/agency/organization/individuals.
The
Commission noted that it had first notified Guidelines for
Publication and Dissemination of Results of Opinion polls/Exit
polls on 20th January, 1998 prescribing the following guidelines
for publication and dissemination of results of opinion polls
and exit polls in which it had said that news organizations
would be free to conduct polls, but not 48 hours prior to
the closing of the polling. It had thereafter issued similar
directions in February 1998 and August 1999.
But
this order was challenged in the Supreme Court and in September
1999, the Commission opted to withdraw the said guidelines
on 14 September, 1999
However
in a meeting held by the Commission with recognized national
and state political parties on 6 April 2004 and again on 3
February 2009, the unanimous view was that publishing the
results of opinion polls and exit polls should not be permitted
till the completion of the poll in all constituencies in multi-phased
elections.
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