SEC allows videography outside the polling Booths during elections of the Municipal Corporations/Councils by private persons including the workers of various political parties

Chandigarh, 20 December 2024:

The State Election Commission hereby informs the candidates and general public, that vide its orders dated 10.10.2024, the Commission has allowed videography proceedings outside the polling stations to be conducted by private persons including the workers of various political parties.

In this regard, it is made clear that no private individual may be allowed to carry out any videography activity within the polling stations. These directions have already been issued by the Commission in accordance with the order dated 24.5.2012 passed by the Hon'ble High Court (DB) in CWP 9601 of 2012 Krishan Kumar Sharma & ors. Vs. State of Punjab, the operative part of which is as under:

"The Petitioners or any other person are at liberty to arrange videography outside the polling station at their own costs and if they express such a desire, they be not prevented from doing so. It is, however, made clear that videography shall not be conducted inside the polling booths to maintain secrecy of the polling".

As per the above order, videography by private persons/workers of political parties is allowed at their own expense, subject to such videography being conducted beyond 100 meters of polling stations.