Shillong, March 8: The West Garo Hills district administration has clamped prohibitory restrictions to prevent any breach of peace or public disturbance during the nomination filing for the April 10 Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.
Issued by the district magistrate Vibhor Aggarwal under Section 163 of the BNSS 2023 on March 8, the order takes effect at 5am March 9 and runs until the nomination process concludes.
Papers will be filed and scrutinized March 9–16 at the Returning Officers’ and Assistant Returning Officers’ offices in the Deputy Commissioner’s complex in Tura.
The magistrate’s order bans obstructive vehicle stops; carrying weapons such as lathis, sticks, stones, firearms or other lethal items; obstruction of shops and establishments; and unlawful assembly of five or more persons intended to disrupt proceedings.
It exempts armed forces, paramilitary units and police on duty.
Aggarwal said the measures are “necessary to prevent any breach of peace, intimidation, or disruption of public life during the nomination period and to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections.”
The notification cites emergent circumstances and takes effect immediately across West Garo Hills.
Meanwhile, the district administration has also issued an urgent notification stating that during the filing window, only one vehicle per candidate will be allowed within 100 metres of the DC office.
Inside the Returning Officer’s room, only four people may enter—candidate, proposer, seconder and a legal counsel.
The notification bars gatherings inside the 100‑metre perimeter and deems any unauthorised assembly of five or more persons unlawful under BNS 2023, empowering executive magistrates and police‑sub‑inspectors or above to disperse crowds.
The directive follows separate correspondence from the District Council Affairs department fixing the election schedule and comes alongside a broader prohibitory order for the nomination period.
The DC said the steps are “imperative…to ensure smooth filing of nomination papers by all aspirant candidates whether put up by political parties or otherwise.”
