Tiwari has issued notice to two Ludhiana printers; Tushar printers and Patal printers for not following the norms and has also hinted that an FIR will be filed against them.

This move was taken after a few printers were found printing election materials for candidates, violating the law which requires every printer to submit the declaration forms with the district electoral officer.

These forms include the information regarding the nature of work being printed by the printing press owners and the money being charged by them. This can help the DEO add expenditure in the candidate’s account.

Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 requires that “every election pamphlet or poster should have on its face the names and addresses of the printer and publisher. Also, within a reasonable time after printing the document, one copy of the declaration as to the identity of the publisher together with a copy of the document should be sent to the Chief Electoral Officer of the State (if it is situated in the State Capital), or to the District Magistrate of the District, at which it is printed. Any contravention of this provision shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to six months, or with fine, which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.”

Tiwari in his statement to Indian Express stated that either the printers are unaware or they are doing this intentionally.

Kamal Chopra, general secretary, Ludhiana Offset Printers Association told PrintWeek India: “There exists a grey market which has been taking mileage of the lacunas of the Press Act. Several printers found violating the rules are unregistered. A few who are printing such jobs are registered as packaging printers and are ideally supposed to print on packaging media."