Gurugram DC warns publishers against violating rules during poll season
Gurugram DC Nishant Kumar Yadav warned printing press owners against violating election material regulations, stressing transparency and accountability, with strict penalties for breaches.
Gurugram district election officer and deputy commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav on Sunday warned all registered printing press owners in the district against violating regulations governing the printing of election pamphlets, posters, and related materials under Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Gurugram district election officer and deputy commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav. (HT Photo)
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“This section mandates that all election materials must clearly display the name of the printer and publisher. We have warned that any violation of these regulations could result in severe consequences, including up to six months of imprisonment and the revocation of the printing press’s licence under Section 163 of the BNSS,” he said.
Yadav said that no pamphlets, posters, or related materials should be printed unless the person requesting the printing provides an affidavit and two witnesses whose signatures must also be obtained. “After the materials are printed, a copy must be sent to the district magistrate, and another to the chief election officer at the state level. This submission should include detailed information on the quantity of materials printed and the associated costs,” he said.
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The DC’s directives aim to ensure transparency and accountability in the election process, particularly in managing campaign expenditures. Yadav said that any breach of these rules would be met with swift and strict legal action.
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The DC’s directives aim to ensure transparency and accountability in the election process, particularly in managing campaign expenditures. Yadav said that any breach of these rules would be met with swift and strict legal action.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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