Election Commission of India on 16-3-2024, announced that the General Elections to Puducherry Lok Sabha, 2024 will be held on 19-4-2024 and soon after this announcement of the Election Schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect.

Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under No. 10410 Amflºƒˆ \VWÈ ∂´E>µ La Gazette de L' État de Poudouchéry The Gazette of Puducherry

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No. 44 Poudouchéry Mercredi 20 Mars 2024 (30 Phalguna 1945)

No. Puducherry Wednesday 20th March 2024

GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY

IN THE COURT OF DISTRICT MAGISTRATE AT KARAIKAL

No. E-17/DEO/2024/78.

Present : DR. D. MANIKANDAN, I.A.S.,

District Election Officer, Karaikal.

ORDER

(Under Section 144 of Cr.P.C., 1973)

Whereas, the Election Commission of India on 16-3-2024, announced that the General Elections to Puducherry Lok Sabha, 2024 will be held on 19-4-2024 and soon after this announcement of the Election Schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect;

And whereas, the Election Commission of India, issued instructions that District Magistrate, shall make a detailed and individual review and assessment of all licensed arms holders, so that licensed arms in those cases, where they consider it essential are impounded in order to ensure maintenance of Law and Order so essential for ensuring free and fair elections;

And whereas, the Election Commission of India, also instructed that Prohibitory Orders under section 144 of Cr. P.C., 1973, shall be issued banning the carrying of licensed arms as soon as, an election is announced and should be effective till the declaration of results;

And whereas, it appears to me that carrying of fire arms, firm arms, spears, swords, sticks, brickbats, lathis and other weapons by the public during the elections period is likely to lead to a breach of peace and threat to peaceful conduct of elections in the District of Karaikal of Union territory of Puducherry.

And whereas, in my opinion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, to prohibit the action mentioned in para (4) which may be detrimental to public peace and tranquility and may pose threat to peaceful conduct of free and fair elections;

And whereas, all the Station House Officers shall make a detailed and individual review and assessment of all licence holders and all the arms licence holders shall deposit their weapons with the nearest Police Station immediately and in any case before 20-03-2024. If, the individual licence holder fails to deposit their arms, the Station House Officer shall impound it. The Station House Officer shall furnish a detailed report on such deposit and seizure;

And whereas, this ban shall not be applicable to those communities who are entitled to display weapons by long standing law, custom and usage, and also to those Nationalised/Private Banks, where, arms are necessary to safeguard cash chest. However, individual exemption order shall have to be obtained immediately.

Now, therefore, I, Dr. D. Manikandan, I.A.S., District Magistrate, Karaikal, do hereby;

1. Order that all the arms licence holders shall deposit their weapons with the nearest Police Station immediately, latest by 20-03-2024.

2. Prohibit possession and carrying of any kind of spears, swords, sticks, brickbats, lathis and other weapons by the general public in the district of Karaikal with immediate effect.

Karaikal, dated the 16th day of March, 2024.

DR. D. MANIKANDAN, I.A.S.,

District Magistrate.

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