EC may scan exit polls soon

BY J.R.PRASAD
Jan. 24: If the Representation of the People (second amendment) Bill, 2008, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, is passed in Parliament, exit polls will come under the scanner of the Election Commission.According to the proposals in the Bill, no person can print or telecast the result of an exit poll during the period notified by the EC.For a general election, the period may commence from the beginning of polling in the first phase and till half-an-hour after the close of polling on the last day.Punishment for violating the law would be to two years or a penaly or both. The Bill also proposes stringent punishment for those who depend on money and muscle power to win polls. The Bill also recommends a timeframe of three months for the implementation of High Court judgment on candidates who resort to poll malpractices. This Bill recommends a timeframe of three months.Meanwhile, Mr Sudarshana Natchiappan, Parliamentary Standing Committee chairman, said the Parliamentary panel on personnel, public grievances, law and justice is all set to recommend to Parliament, waiver of the Rs 10 application fee under the Right to Information Act.