CASC has written to the Election Commission saying the exit polls violate Section 126A of the Representation of People Act
LokSabha Elections 2019:A Delhi-based research organization has kept in touch with the Election Commission mentioning activity or First Information Report (FIR) against ‘unlawful Exit Polls for infringement of Section 126A of the Representation of People Act, 1951’.
The research organization, Center for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), said in a correspondence to the EC that the approach of leave surveys led by different offices and organizations were deluding.
Refering to the approach of Axis-My India’s overview, CASC said “Despite the fact that ‘Leave Poll’ is the usually utilized terminology, in fact talking, the review was a ‘Post-Poll’ study…In Exit Polls, respondents are met outside the surveying stalls as individuals exit in the wake of throwing cast a ballot. As per rules of the Election Commission of India, Exit Polls are restricted… ..Note that no information gathering was done outside the surveying corners as it isn’t allowable as per ECI rules.”
CASC has scrutinized the mislabeling of these surveys. “It is presented that the Post Poll Surveys were distributed and broadcast in appearance of Exit Polls. In the event that it is done as such, it is a reasonable instance of misrepresentation and deceiving by such organizations. Illumination might be looked for from every such office by Election Commission. On the off chance that such organizations guarantee that Exit Polls were not led, at that point the Election Commission may guide them to issue the essential illumination and open notice,” the research organization said in its letter to the Chief Election Commissioner.
So also, another office, IPSOS, expressed its strategy for gathering information as: “Voters were arbitrarily chosen outside the surveying station. Each third voter turning out in the wake of making choice was chosen. The Survey was led on the Election Day in all the seven periods of surveying. The talking procedure began while surveying opened and proceeded for the duration of the day until casting a ballot shut to guarantee a superior portrayal of voters coming in at various time groups.”
Area 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 does not enable any individual to lead, distribute or plug a leave survey. Further, in a warning dated April 7, the EC had said that leave surveys were precluded between 7.00 am on April 11, 2019 and 6:30 pm on May 19, 2019.
While leave surveys were made open simply after 6:30 pm on May 19, the gathering of information occurred between April 11 and May 19.
CASC said that the leave surveys led by different offices, professing to gather information of around eight lakh voters, were a reasonable instance of infringement of the law and Election Commission warnings.
The research organization has mentioned a point by point enquiry by the EC into the issue. “You may catch every single such datum of voters to ask if those were gathered outside the surveying corner – a condition required to gather information”.
Aditi Mehta 