Haryana News: 3-tier security, 91 counting centers
Chandigarh: Counting of votes for the General Elections 2024 and Karnal Assembly by-election will begin at 8 am on Tuesday. A total of 91 counting centers have been set up across the state. Counting of postal ballots will begin before counting of EVMs at the counting center of the Returning Officer. 10,000 policemen deployed There will be a three-tier security system around the 91 counting centers in the state. Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel will be deployed at the first level. Haryana Armed Police or IRB personnel will be deployed at the second level and district police personnel will be deployed at the third level. More than 10,000 policemen have been deployed at the counting centers. Three separate entry gates have been made at each counting center for counting staff, counting agents and EVM machines.
Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Aggarwal said that media centers have been set up at each counting center for the convenience of media persons. Apart from this, a separate media center has been set up in the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office in Chandigarh. He said that despite the scorching heat, people exercised their franchise in large numbers. 64.8 percent voting took place in Haryana. The CEO thanked the voters of the state for this. Agarwal said that all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure that the counting process is completed efficiently and peacefully. The Election Commission of India has appointed counting supervisors at all counting centers to monitor the counting process. He informed that for any information or complaint related to vote counting, one can contact toll-free number 0172-1950, control room telephone 0172-2701362 or hry_elect@yahoo.com.Aggarwal emphasized that every officer, clerk, agent or other person involved in the recording or counting of votes should maintain the secrecy of voting.Violation of this is treated as an offence under Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which can result in imprisonment up to three months, fine or both.He said that no officer connected with the conduct of election shall do any such act which increases the chances of any candidate winning the election. Violation under Section 129 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 can result in imprisonment up to six months, fine or both. Any person who without reasonable excuse violates official duty in connection with election shall be liable to pay a fine of up to Rs 500 under section 134 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Aggarwal further said that any person in the service of the government who acts as election agent, polling agent or counting agent of any candidate is subject to penalty under section 134A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which may extend to three months, fine or both. He reiterated the importance of following these guidelines to ensure a fair and transparent counting process.
