Date:25/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/25/stories/2006062511370100.htm

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SEC orders action against Congress MLA

Special Correspondent

He obstructed a public servant from discharging his duties: SEC Secretary

R. Venkat Reddy

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HYDERABAD: The State Election Commission has asked the Khammam Collector and Superintendent of Police to take immediate steps to register a case against Sujathnagar Congress MLA R. Venkat Reddy under Section 186 of IPC for obstructing a public servant from discharging his duties.

The ruling party MLA, according to SEC Secretary G.N. Rao, entered the room of the Returning Officer, who is also chief executive officer of the Zilla Parishad, and insisted on him accepting the `B' form of a particular candidate. Though the Returning Officer tried to convince the legislator that he had, as per rules, decided to accept the `B' form of another candidate, Mr. Venkat Reddy continued to shout at the official and created a scene.

Expeditious action

The SEC felt that expeditious action was necessary to infuse confidence among election officials that they would be protected against any intimidation in discharging their duties.

Mr. Rao told reporters here on Saturday that the commission also instructed the political parties to furnish the list of persons to be appointed as polling agents at least one day before the polling. This would facilitate returning officers to get the antecedents of the persons verified by the police. The returning officers had been authorised to order suo motu inquiry wherever they felt the person appointed was of suspicious character.