Chandigarh, Sep 8 - The Election Commission (EC) has prohibited the use of official aircraft till the electoral process for Haryana assembly polls concludes next month.

Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Sajjan Singh said Tuesday that there would be a complete ban on use of aircraft, owned by the state government and public sector undertakings (PSUs) by political functionaries, including the chief minister and ministers.

Singh said that the EC's restrictions did not prohibit use of private aircraft by political functionaries including the chief minister.

The Haryana government Tuesday made it clear to its employees that if any person in government service acts as an election agent, polling agent or a counting agent of a candidate in assembly elections, he shall be liable to punishment, including imprisonment for a term up to three months with fine or both.

A communication from the Haryana chief secretary to heads of departments has stated that any disregard of the instructions will be considered by the government as serious act of indiscipline, a government spokesman said here.