Control on printing of pamphlets, posters etc. — section 127-A

Rajasthan ULB General Election 2026 · for the DLMT / RO / ARO · Order 996 dated 24.01.2026

Why this file exists. Running coverage_check.py on 23.08.2026 turned up a 2026 order on the Commission's own listing that this project neither held nor cited anywhere — order 996 dated 24.01.2026. I read all five pages myself (a scan; there was no text layer).

🚨 The miss was mine. The order's file number reads "पंचा" (Panchayat), so it looks like a Panchayat document — but the order says in its own words that it applies to municipal elections. The proof is below.

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1. 🚨 First — why this applies to ULB elections

The opening line of the order (page 1, read first-hand):

"Under section 28 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009 and section 22 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act 1994, the provisions of section 127-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 have been deemed to apply also to elections of municipalities and Panchayati Raj institutions."

The sentence that issues the directions (page 2):

"…issues the following directions regarding control on the printing of pamphlets, posters etc. in the elections of municipalities and Panchayati Raj institutions…"

And Annexure-A's own heading (page 4):

"(see section 127-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 read with section 22 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 and section 28 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009)"

✅ Conclusion

In three separate places the order itself says it applies to municipal elections. The word "पंचा" in the file number does not confine it to Panchayats.

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2. The order's identity card

🔴 New line for the supersession register: 4364 (22.12.2000) → 996 (24.01.2026). Do not teach from the old order 4364.

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2-A. 🚨 The Compendium prints this same order as 1783 (01.05.2018)

You need to know this, or it will cause confusion in the classroom. A trainer who opens the Compendium will find order 1783 dated 01.05.2018 at printed pages 83–87 — not 996. Neither of you needs to worry.

I read the two side by side — the text is word for word the same

✅ Conclusion — and this matters

996 is a re-issue of 1783. That is why 996 also supersedes 4364 and not 1783 — the two say the same thing, so there is no conflict. The correct chain: 4364 (22.12.2000) → 1783 (01.05.2018) → 996 (24.01.2026)

➡ Cite 1783 or cite 996 — the content is identical. For the classroom say 996, simply because it belongs to this election cycle.

⚪ One small printing slip — in the Compendium, not in 996

🎯 This is a typographical slip, not a defect of substance — direction (i)(b) of the same order says "within three days" in both copies. The period is three days. Add the word when teaching from the Compendium.

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3. 🚨 What the order is for — compliance without this is meaningless

The order states its own reason (page 2, first paragraph):

"…these controls have been imposed with a view to establishing the identity of the publishers and printers of such documents, so that if such a document contains matter that is unlawful, harmful or objectionable (such as an appeal on grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language, or material assassinating the character of an opponent), the necessary punitive or preventive action can be taken against the persons concerned."

🎯 Say this sentence in training

Section 127-A is not paperwork. It is the link by which anonymous, communal or character-assassinating material is traced back to a printer and a publisher. If no name and address is printed, the material is anonymous — and anonymous material is the most toxic kind.

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4. The full text of section 127-A, as quoted in the order

"127A. Restrictions on the printing of pamphlets, posters, etc.:—

⚠️ The (3)(b) exception — the most-asked question

Material	Does 127-A apply?
A candidate's campaign handbill, appeal, poster	✅ Yes
"Meeting on 05.09.2026, 4 p.m., Ramlila Maidan" — and nothing more	❌ No
A slip of working instructions for agents/workers	❌ No
That same meeting notice with an appeal for the candidate added	✅ Yes — the exception is gone

🚨 The exception holds only while the handbill does nothing but announce. The moment an appeal is added it becomes an "election pamphlet or poster".

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5. 🔴 The Commission's seven directions — (i) to (vii)

(i) The District Magistrate writes to every press within three days

"As soon as the Commission announces the programme of a general or any bye-election of Panchayati Raj institutions and municipalities, the District Magistrate concerned shall, within three days of the announcement of the election programme, write to all the printing presses in his district —"

🚨🚨 For Balotra — this date has already passed

Fact	Date
Announcement of the general election programme (press note 6722)	19.08.2026
The three-day limit in order 996(i)	➡ 22.08.2026
Today	23.08.2026

⚠️ I am not saying the District Magistrate failed to comply — I have no way to know. 🚨 I am saying the date has passed, and the DLMT should ask the DEO whether the letters went out to every press in Balotra district. If they did not — they should go today.

(ii) Jaipur

The District Magistrate, Jaipur shall act in the same manner in respect of presses situated in Jaipur city.

(iii) Printer — take the declaration before accepting the work

"Before taking up the work of printing election pamphlets, posters, etc., every printer shall obtain from the publisher a signed declaration in "Annexure-A" prescribed by the Commission, in accordance with the conditions of sub-section (2) of section 127-A. This declaration shall also be attested by two persons who know the publisher personally. When forwarding it to the Chief Electoral Officer … or the District Magistrate …, it shall also be certified by the printer."

(iv) Printer — four copies, within three days, separately

🔴 "three additional copies" in (i)(b) and "four copies" in (iv) do not conflict. 1 original + 3 additional = 4 in total. Both lines say the same thing.

(v) District Magistrate — examine and display publicly

"Immediately upon receipt of pamphlets, posters etc. from any press, the District Magistrate shall examine whether the publishers and printers have complied with the requirements of the law and of the Commission's directions. In addition, he shall have a copy displayed at some conspicuous place / on the notice board in the office, so that all political parties, candidates and other interested persons may check … and thus be able to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned any case in which the requirements have been violated."

🎯 This is the least-known clause. The material received must go on the notice board — so that rival parties can catch violations too. It is a transparency device, not just filing.

(vi) Two copies from Jaipur to the Commission

Of the 4 copies received by the District Magistrate, Jaipur from presses in Jaipur city, two copies shall be sent to the office of the State Election Commission.

(vii) On violation — a complaint in the competent court

"If a case of any pamphlet, poster etc. published in contravention/violation of the provisions of section 127-A and of the said directions of the Commission comes or is brought to the notice of the District Magistrate, then after due inquiry, action shall be taken by filing a complaint in the competent court against the guilty persons."

⚠️ The route of action is a complaint in court. An RO/ARO cannot punish; they report to the District Magistrate.

The order's own closing line:

"The State Election Commission hereby informs all political parties, candidates and other persons concerned that violation of the law and of the Commission's directions on the above subject will be viewed seriously and action will be taken against the guilty according to law."

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6. Annexure-A — the publisher's declaration (page 4, read first-hand)

Heading: "Form of declaration to be furnished by the publisher for printing election posters, handbills etc." Bracket: (see section 127-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 read with section 22 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 and section 28 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009)

🚨 The two attesters' block cannot be left blank — it is the statutory condition in section 127-A(2)(a).

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7. Annexure-B — the printer's information (page 5, read first-hand)

Heading: "Form of information to be furnished by the printer for printing election posters, handbills etc."

Place · Date · Signature of the printer with seal

🎯 Note item 8 — the printing charge. That figure is what an election expenditure account is reconciled against. Under-declared campaign spending is caught right here.

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8. ✅ One-page checklist

Penalty: imprisonment up to six months or fine up to ₹2,000 or both (section 127-A(4)) plus the press's licence may be cancelled (direction (i)(c))

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9. ⚠️ What I cannot tell you

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10. 🟠 Paid news — order 4261 dated 26.09.2014 · mechanism recorded, currency unconfirmed

⚠️ The warning first, the content second

This order is from 2014. By our own rule (Supersession register, Part 2) a pre-2026 order may be taught only if (a) the Commission reprinted it in its 2026 Compendium, or (b) a 2026 order sent it as an enclosure.

I checked both. Neither is true.

🚨 So what follows is not here to say "this applies". It is here so you can ask the DEO.

What I actually checked

🔴 The substance of the order (for the record — all four pages read)

The legal basis it states for itself: paid news is placed in the category of a violation of the expenditure limit for cut-outs, hoardings, posters and banners under section 23 of the Municipalities Act 2009.

Media Monitoring Committee (MMC) — district level

🚨 The RO's own duty — and its 48-hour clock

How the cost is assessed

District media cell — nodal officer and functions

Nodal officer: the District Public Relations Officer, or the senior-most officer of the public relations service posted in the district.

Monitoring period: "after the announcement of the election programme, from the date of issue of the public notice of election to the date of poll".

🆕 Order 966 dated 24.01.2026 — half the question is answered right here

Compendium item 23, printed p. 101 — read first-hand. This is a 2026 order.

✅ This much is now certain

A district cell under the DPRO does exist for 2026 — constituted by the Commission's own 2026 order, not by inference.

⚠️ But it is not the whole answer — read carefully

Order 966 contains no mention of "paid news", no MMC, and nothing about adding cost to an expenditure account. Its subject is news compilation. So —

Question	Status
Is there a news cell for 2026?	✅ Yes — order 966
Is the MMC constituted, and is 4261 being treated as the basis for paid news?	⚠️ still open — ask the DEO

Source: Order 966 dated 24.01.2026 — Compendium item 23, printed p. 101

✅ What this means for the Balotra DLMT

Copy retained: SEC_standing/2014-09-26_4261_paid_news.pdf (all four pages read as images)

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Source: Order 996 dated 24.01.2026, all five pages read first-hand → SEC_standing/2026-01-24_996_printing_control.pdf Compiled: 23.08.2026 · How it was found: _tools/coverage_check.py (LIVE gap) Hindi parallel: पैम्फलेट, पोस्टर आदि के मुद्रण पर नियंत्रण — धारा 127-क Related: Supersession register — which order replaces which · ⛔ नवीनतम आदेश — जो मार्गदर्शिका और संकलन दोनों पर भारी पड़ते हैं · बालोतरा जिला — प्रशिक्षण पैक · Stale and defective citations in the official sources — a single register