New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Puducherry government has banned defacing of public and private properties. According to a notification issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, no political party, candidate or supporter is allowed to paste posters, write slogans, paint symbols or put up banners, hoardings or arches in public places or on private properties visible to the public.The Lieutenant Governor is the constitutional head of the union territory. Following the directions of the Election Commission, the purpose of the order is to ensure free and fair elections while maintaining law and order. The restrictions will continue till the elections are over, although voter awareness programs have been exempted under the SVEEP initiative. Voting for all 30 assembly seats in Puducherry is scheduled to take place on April 9 and counting of votes will take place on May 4.