Mangaluru: DK DC S. Sasikanth Senthil on April 2, Monday said there was no need to obtain permission from Returning Officers (RO) to conduct private functions on private premises.

DC sasikanth Clarifying the legal position in the light of enforcement of the model code of conduct during a coordination meeting of Returning Officers and police officers here, DK DC Senthil said private programmes are not of a political nature and do not require permission.

However, if the private programmes are conducted in public places, organisers have to obtain permission, including for the use of loudspeakers, from the authorities, he said.

Meanwhile, organisers of non-political programmes, including staging of Yakshagana, have to submit an undertaking to the Returning Officer or to the local authority/police station that the programme is not being conducted for any political purpose. There is no need to obtain permission from Returning Officers for such programmes, he said.

DK DC Senthil said a single window system would soon be in place at the offices of all Returning Officers to expedite according permission to hold public programmes. People need not approach the Deputy Commissioner for permission, he said.

City Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh said officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police will be appointed as nodal officers for each of the four Assembly constituencies falling under the Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate. Respective nodal police officers will hold daily meetings with ROs on enforcement of the model code of conduct, he said.

Superintendent of Police B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda said circle inspectors of police will be assigned the security responsibility of respective Assembly constituencies in the district.