Chandigarh, February 15:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested the Governor of Punjab to issue appropriate advisory and take action as deemed necessary against Punjab State Information Commissioner Anumit Singh Sodhi.
Divulging details, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju said that two complaints were received against State Information Commissioner Anumit Singh alleging that the latter in violation of the powers conferred upon him as the State Information Commissioner, is running an election campaign in favour of his father Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi.
The letter from ECI reads, “The video/pictures sent by the complainant do not leave any doubt that Shri Anumit Singh is taking part in the election campaign and undertaking political activity.”
“On the basis of the reports, facts, rules and provisions of Model Code of Conduct, Commission has found that Shri Anumit Singh Sodhi has violated the general provisions of RTI Act and the provisions of Model Code of Conduct issued by the Election Commission of India,” the letter further reads.
Meanwhile, the ECI has also written a letter to the Secretary State Information Commissioner citing, “Election Commission has desired that it may be brought to the notice of all Information Commissioners to restrain them from any campaigning in official vehicle, keeping in view Section 12 (6) of Right to Information Act, 2005 and Commission’s extant instructions on tours of members of various Commissions during the period of elections.”
