The District Election Officer/Deputy Commissioner, Leh Santosh Sukhadeve, chaired a meeting cum training programme for the Zonal/Sector Magistrates and FSTs/ SSTs on Expenditure Monitoring, Model Code of Conduct, Media Complaint and role and responsibilities of Magistrates during conduct of elections, in the DC Conference Hall on March 9.

During the session, he emphasized the pivotal role of Magistrates in ensuring the integrity and fairness of elections, which is fundamental to India’s vibrant democracy. He elaborated on the responsibilities entrusted to Magistrates, stressing transparency and impartiality in the electoral process.

He highlighted the critical role of FSTs/SSTs in curbing voter inducement, preventing the misuse of power during elections, and ensuring equitable opportunities for all candidates in the electoral arena.

A detailed presentation by State Level Master Trainer, District Treasury Officer (DTO) Kargil,  Iftikar Hussain, shed light on various topics, including, Election Expenditure Monitoring, the adverse effects of monetary influence, the implications of election finance violations, the structure, and functions of EEM, and the essential role of ROs in expenditure monitoring.

Moreover, he elaborated on the Model Code of Conduct, Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC), the process of pre-certification of politically oriented advertisements, combating paid news, and the facilitation of media coverage during elections.

 The training was attended by Sub Divisional Magistrates, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers 1(AEROs), Field Surveillance Teams ( FSTs), and  Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs).