TS Polls: Bulk SMS banned for two days in the state

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar has prohibited transmission of unauthorised bulk Short Messaging Services (SMS) of political nature from Wednesday 6 pm to Friday 6 pm, the day when the State Assembly elections conclude.Director General of Police (DGP), M Mahender Reddy on Tuesday said in pursuance to the instructions of Election Commission of India (ECI) and to prevent electoral offences that cause breakdown of public order and interfere with the process of free and fair conduct of elections, bulk SMS have been prohibited.

The DGP said the prohibition also covers bulk SMS transmissions initiated from other States or licensing Service Areas (telecom circles) and terminating in Telangana.The order to ban bulk SMS for 48 hours from ECI was based on sections of Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and the Government Orders.