EC allows use of school premises for poll meets

The Election Commission has allowed holding of political meetings in schools and colleges for poll campaign rescinding its earlier order banning use of premises of educational institutions for such gatherings.
    
Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer Sudhir Kumar Rakesh has issued necessary instructions to all district magistrates in
the light of the EC order, which comes with some riders, state election office sources said on Friday.
    
The poll panel's new order makes it mandatory for the parties and candidates to seek prior permission of the authorities of the institution and the sub-divisional officer concerned.
    
The

premises would be allotted on 'first come first serve' basis and, in case of damage to property of the institutions during the meeting, the parties and candidates concerned would have to make compensation.
    
The EC's earlier order had led to filing of a case against Union Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmed on March 18 for violating the model code by holding a meeting in the premises of a school at Khirma village in Darbhanga district on March 13.
    
Darbhanga District Magistrate, Arun Kumar and Superintendent of Police Pankaj Darad were transfered and Sub-divisional Officer Rameshwar Prasad was suspended for having allowed the meeting.