New Delhi, Friday 1 May 2009: The Election Commission on Friday strongly objected to the use of children in poll related work and warned concerned officials of disciplinary action.

Taking cognizance of photographs in newspaper of children carrying electronic voting machines at Bhagalpur in Bihar, the EC in a letter to chief secretaries and chief election officers of all states said “it is highly objectionable”.

Violation of child rights for any work connected with the election process “is in no way acceptable,” it said.

In order to ensure that no such “insensitivity” was shown by the election related officials, the commission warned that the district election officers and returning officers would be personally held responsible for any such violation and would face severe disciplinary action apart from facing the consequences of law, if any such instances came to its notice.

The EC said the child labour act bans employment of children below 14 years in specified occupations such as transport of goods, which were considered unsafe and harmful to them, and seeks to regulate the conditions of work of children in employment.
(Agency)