Most Immediate ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001 No. 76/instructions/2015/EEPS/Vol. IT Dated: T™ October, 2015 To ‘The Chief Electoral Officer of all States/UTs. ‘Subject:~ Change of helicopter by the candidates/political parties at last moment — Permission on priority basis by the DEO - regarding, Sir/Madam, | am directed to refer to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India vide their Office Memorandum No. CAS-7 (15)/2012/Div-I (Election) dated 03.07.2013 (copy enclosed) and to state that under the existing provision contained in Para (ix) of the afore-mentioned OM, at remote/uncontrolled airports and helipads application will have to be made either by the candidate or by the political party to the DEO concerned, at least 24 hours before landing, mentioning the details of travel plan, place of landing in the district and names of passengers in the aircrafts/helicopters so that DEO can make adequate arrangements for security, law and order issues and also to make available the coordinates of the helipad. On receipt of such application, DEO shall issue permission on the same day on priority basis. 2, ‘The Commission has considered the above said provision and taking into account hardships caused to the candidates/political parties during election, it has been decided that in those cases where permission has already been accorded to the candidates/political parties, if a request for change of helicopter is received from a candidate/political party at the last moment, then it will be dealt with by the DEO on priority basis and decision will be communicated within 03 hours of receipt of application to the candidate or political party concemed. 3. Kindly bring it to the notice of all DEOs and concemed officers. Yours faithfully, Encl: As above (S. K. RUDOLA) SECRETARY Copy to : ~ 1. The Commissioner of Security (CA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Ministry of Civil Aviation, *A’ Wing, Janpath Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi ~ 110001 (By Special Messenger). 2. EPS Section/MCC Section/East-I Section. (8. RUDOLA) SECRETARYAnnexure-53, CAS-7 (15)/2012/Div-I (Election) GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BUREAU OF CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY (MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION) A' WING, JANPATH BHAWANJANPATH, NEW DELHI -110001Dated: 03/07/2013 OFFICE MEMORANDUM Subject: Modified Standard Operating Procedure to prevent transport of unauthorized arms, contraband goods and suspicious money/bullion through airports during election process-matter reg. Ref. OMs of even no. dated 08.04.2011 and dated 14.02.2012 Reports are received that during the process of elections, unauthorized arms, contraband goods or large sum of cash/bullion are often transported through chartered aircrafUhelicopters/passengers of commercial airlines to the poll bound States. The Election Commission of India is concemed about such incidents, which may disturb the level playing field during the election process. 2. Therefore, as per request of the Election Commission of India, it is hereby directed that the following measures shall be taken, while keeping vigil over the baggage/passengers at commercial airports and in non-commercial airstrips/helicopters of the States, going for poll of those boarding such aircrafts to the poll bounds States: Pre-embarkation checks at Commercial Airports: (During election process, all rules and procedures with regard to frisking and checking of persons and baggage should be strictly enforced without any exception. All passengers (excepting those who are exempted under the Rules) and all the baggage (excepting that which is exempted under the Rules), boarding any aircrafUhelicopters including commercial/ chartered flights will pass through the pre-embarkation security checks area of operational airports of the State going of Polls. i) No prior permission for landing or take off of chartered aircrafts (including fixed wing aircrafts) and helicopters at commercial airports shall be required from District Election Officer (DEO) or Returning Officer (RO). The Air Traffic Control (ATC) in commercial airports shall inform the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State and the DEO of the district, in which the airport is located, about the travel plan of chartered aircrafts or helicopters as early as possible, preferably half an hour in advance. 217(iii) However, during election process, the ATC shall keep record of all such chartered aircrafts or helicopters, landing and taking off from commercial airports, time of landing, time of take off and passenger manifest, route plan etc. The ATC shall make a copy of this information available to the CEO of the State concerned and to DEO of the district, in which airport is located, within 3 days, after the date of landing/take off and the CEO/DEO shall make such information available to the Expenditure Observer for making necessary verification during inspection. The ATC shall also make the record available for inspection by Expenditure Observer whenever required. (iv) All baggage, including hand baggage, of persons/passengers (not exempted under the Rules) but permitted to avail the facility of vehicle for going up to aircraft shall also be screened by CISF/State/UT police without any relaxation, (¥) The CISF or police authorities of the State or Union Territory on detection of cash, exceeding Rs.10 lakhs or bullion, weighing 1 kg or more in the baggage of aircrafts, flying to or from the Poll bound State, shall instantaneously report to the Income Tax Department. (vi) The Income Tax Department, on receipt of information shall make necessary verification as per the Income Tax Laws and take necessary measures if no satisfactory explanation is given. They shall also inform the Election Commission / Chief Electoral Officer / District Election Officer concerned, before release of any such cash or bullion. (vii) The law enforcement agencies, like CISF, State Police and Income Tax Department shall develop their internal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in such a way that the entire event right from detection till seizure or release at the airport is captured by close circuit TVs/ Video Camera. For this purpose the CCTVs shall be installed in all commercial airports in places where the cash/ bullion is detected counted/ seized and also in the interrogation chambers of the law enforcement agencies including Income Tax Department Such recording of CCTVs / Video Camera shall be preserved with the Airport Operator/ Authority for a period of 3 months and when required, be made available to the Election Commission/CEO. Checks at Non-commercial Airports/helipads (viii) At remote/uncontrolled airports/helipads, the flying squad or police authorities of the State/UT in coordination with pilot of the aircraft shall carry out the screening/physical checking of all baggage coming out of the craft (excepting the handheld purse by the ladies). 218Any unauthy ed arms, contraband goods, cash exceeding Rs.50,000/- belonging to any candidate or agent or party functionary shall be investigated and considered for seizure as per order of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Election Commissioner vs Bhagyoday Janparishad & Ors. WP No. 231/2012, dated 09.11.2012. However, it is clarified that_friski of body of am passenger shall _not be done at the time of disembarkation at_such remote uncontrolled airports/helipads, unless there is specific information about unauthorized arms or contraband ‘g00ds, etc., being carried by the person. (ix) At remote/uncontrolled airports and helipads, application will have to be made either by the candidate or by the political party to the DEO concerned, at least 24 hours before landing, mentioning the details of travel plan, place of landing in the district and names of passengers in the aircrafishhelicopters so that DEO can make adequate arrangements for security, law and order issues and also to make available the coordinates of the helipad. On receipt of such application, DEO shall issue permi: non the same day on priority basis. (x) Every candidate shall also inform the Returning Officer concerned in writing within five days after the landing of aircrafthhelicopter, in his constituency about the hiring charges paid/payable to the company owning/leasing the aircrafvhelicopter, the names of passengers and name of the political party. (if the party has borne the expense for the hiring) 3 All concerned are requested to ensure that the above directions are strictly complied with under intimation to this office. Sa/- (RN Dhoke, IPS) Addl. Commissioner of Security (CA) Distribution: All Chief Secretaries of State/UTS The DG, CISF, 13 CGO’s Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. AIL DGP/IGP of States.UTS DGCA, Oppo. Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi. Chairman, AAI, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi The RDCOS(CA), BCAS, Delhi, Amritsar, Mumbai, Ahemedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata & Guwahati: for strict compliance. The MD, DIAL, New Udan Bhawan, Opp.Terminal-3, IGI Airport, New Delhi- 37. The MD, MIAL, CSI Airport, 1° Floor, Terminal IB, Santacruz (E), Mumbai- 400009. The MD, CIAL, Cochin Internationa Airport Ltd., Cochin Airport, Cochin. aveeee 21910. ‘The MD, HIAL, Hyderabad International Airport Limited, Shamshabad- 500409, Ranga Reddy Distt, A.P. 11, The MD, BIAL, Bangalore International Airport Ltd., Administration Block, Bengaluru International Airport Devanahalli, Bangalore-560300. 12, The MD, MIHAN India Private Ltd. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Aiport, Nagpur. Copy to: 1 Election Commission of India (Shri Anuj Jaipuriar Secretary) Nirvachan Ashoka Road, New Delhi.: w.rst. letter No.76/Instructions/2013/EEPS/Vol.1 dated 27" June, 2013 2. ‘The Secretary to the Govt. of India, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi. 3. ‘The Chairman, CBDT, North Block, New Delhi. 4 The Joint Diretor, IB, 35 SP Marg, New Delhi. Internal: 1 PPS to Jt COSCA, a Shri R.N. Dhoke, Addl.COS(CA), Nodal Officer, Tel No. 011-23311467 Mob no. +919013626505, 3. Tel.No.(011)23311467 Mob.No.+91901362650S 4 Shri M.T.Baig, Asstt.Commissioner of Security (CA), Alternate Nodal Officer Tel.No.(O11) 23731721 5 All Officers in BCAS HQrs Sd/- (RN Dhoke, IPS) Addl. Commissioner of Security 220