EC orders ban on mobile phones near booths

Carrying of mobile phones have been banned within a radius of 100 metres of a polling booth, the Election Commission has ordered.

Carrying of mobile phones have been banned within a radius of 100 metres of a polling booth, the Election Commission has ordered.

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Cellular phones, cordless phones or wireless sets would not be allowed to be used or taken inside a radius of 100 metres of the booth, an official release said on Monday, adding if such equipment was found with any person within the prescribed area or the counting hall, it would be seized by security personnel.

They would be returned after the poll results were published.

The restriction, however, would not apply to security personnel and other officials on duty in the polling booth or counting hall.

The instruction had been passed on to the election officers and returning officers by the Chief Electoral Officer, R Balakrishnan, the release said.