Madhya Pradesh polls: EC directs parties not to use children for campaigning

BHOPAL: The Election Commission has instructed all district election officers in Madhya Pradesh to ensure that political parties do not use children for poll campaigning.

State Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind yesterday apprised the district election officers of the EC's directive, which bans use of children for electioneering.

The EC had referred to a Delhi High Court order which said that provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act will apply to juveniles up to 18 years and not 14 years.

The EC order said that because of this, political parties must be advised not to deploy children below the age of 18 for election work.