Angel Mercury, I’puram: Section 144 spanner in society elections
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Angel Mercury, I’puram: Section 144 spanner in society elections

In the light of forthcoming state polls and the consequent clamping of Section 144 on the district, residents have been advised to delay AOA elections to avoid any flare-ups.

Angel Mercury, I’puram: Section 144 spanner in society elections Angel Mercury in Ahinsa Khan 2, Indirapuram

With the clamping of Section 144 CrPC on the district from December 25 to February 15, AOA elections in Angel Mercury, a residential society in Ahinsa Khand 2, Indirapuram, might suffer a setback.

The order, which prohibits assembly of more than four people in an area, was imposed by the district magistrate in view of the forthcoming state polls.

Residents allege that this amounts to unnecessary involvement of the police in society election.

Speaking to City Spidey, Ashok Lavanya, society’s election officer, said the term for the last AOA had ended on December 11, 2016. "We had already started the procedure to hold fresh elections, but stopped after the police told us to get permission from the district administration," he added.

Anil Kumar Yadav, police CO, Indirapuram, told City Spidey that the police was acting upon the directions of the district administration.

Alok Kumar, founder of FedAOA, told City Spidey that not conducting timely elections will turn the functioning AOA body defunct, in accordance with the provisions of the UP Apartment Act, 2010. He further argued, “Moreover AOA elections are held within societies, and implementation of Section 144 has no bearing on it.”

City Spidey took up the issue with Nidhi Kesarwani, Ghaziabad DM. She maintained that conducting elections in private residential societies did not violate the provisions of Section 144 of CrPC.

However, she reasoned, “It is better to not conduct elections in the society at the moment, as the state polls are close, and political parties might take advantage of the situation to push party agenda through residential elections.”

She added, "Such society elections are generally barred as a precautionary measure. The participants might be associated with major political parties, and might push their personal political agenda through the medium of society elections. This might lead to flare-ups. The AOA can conduct elections after receiving permission from the sub-divisional magistrate.”

Lavanya confirmed to City Spidey that the residents will consult with experts and the district administration on the matter, and if possible, conduct elections in the next 15 days. "The elections will be conducted peacefully. In fact, we might not even need an election, as there’s a fair chance of forming the body without any opposition," he added.