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PIL seeks minimum two-year punishment for electoral offences

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) A PIL filed in the Supreme Court has sought a minimum punishment of two years for electoral offences involving bribery, undue influence, impersonation, false statement, illegal payments and non-filing of election accounts by candidates and political parties.

Referring to a February 1992 Election Commission proposal, the petitioner, Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, has sought a declaration that the electoral offences be considered cognisable offences.

Pointing to February 15, 1992 proposal of the Election Commission to make electoral offences a cognisable offence, petitioner, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, said “successive governments did nothing in this regard to date”.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) says that since year 2000, not only in parliamentary elections or state assembly elections, “bribery is used to garner support even in the by-elections”.

The petitioner says that use of unfair practices during elections by candidates and political parties is against the dictum of democracy and the free and fair elections in the spirit of Article 14, 19 and 324 of the Constitution.

Referring to Section 171H and 171I of the IPC which punishes bribery, undue influence and impersonation during elections, the PIL petitioner has contended that these are non-cognizable offences with a punishment of one-year imprisonment or fine or both.

He said that this was the position way back in 1920 and should undergo change by making these offences cognizable with a minimum punishment of two-year imprisonment.

Upadhyay has said that in 2012, the Election Commission had recommended to the Centre to amend the existing law to make bribery during elections (both cash and kind) a cognizable offence to enable police to arrest the violators without a warrant.

Although the Union Home Ministry conveyed to the Election Commission that it has initiated the process to amend the Sections 171B and 171E of the Indian Penal Code but government has done nothing in this regard to date, says the PIL.

The Home Ministry has conveyed to the Election Commission that it has initiated the process to amend Sections 171B and 171E of the Indian Penal Code for the same, but the government is yet to do anything in this regard, it says.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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