Election Commission Issues Stern Warning Over Model Code Violations
The Election Commission has raised serious concerns about government departments continuing to bypass established procedures during the ongoing assembly election period. In a strongly worded communication, election authorities have warned of strict action if violations of the Model Code of Conduct persist.
Direct Communication Bypasses Established Channels
Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar, in an official communication dated April 3, revealed that his office has noticed several departments and institutions submitting proposals directly to the CEO's office. This practice directly contradicts the government's March 16 circular that clearly mandated all such proposals must be routed through the concerned administrative department and placed before a screening committee for proper evaluation.
The CEO has now issued a firm directive that strict adherence to the prescribed procedure is absolutely mandatory. The communication makes it unequivocally clear that all proposals requiring consideration or permission during the Model Code of Conduct period must follow the established channel: first through the respective administrative department, then with the recommendation of the screening committee, before reaching the CEO's office.
Comprehensive Compliance Required
Departments have received specific instructions to ensure that all subordinate offices, wings, and affiliated institutions comply with these directions without exception. The directive explicitly prohibits sending proposals directly to either the Chief Electoral Officer or the Election Commission of India, emphasizing that such practices undermine the established screening process.
The CEO's office has reiterated that any deviation from the prescribed procedure will be viewed with utmost seriousness. The warning emphasizes that the procedure laid down by the state government must be followed without any exceptions, particularly during this sensitive election period.
Background of Established Procedures
This stern warning comes against the backdrop of orders issued by the General Administration (Co-ordination) Department shortly after the Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 15. The government had constituted a screening committee headed by the Chief Secretary specifically to examine proposals that might require prior clearance from the Election Commission of India before being forwarded to the CEO.
A detailed circular had established clear guidelines:
- Secretaries should examine cases at their level based on MCC guidelines
- Only those proposals requiring exemption, clarification, or falling outside existing norms should be escalated to the committee
- Departments were specifically barred from sending proposals directly to the CEO or ECI without the committee's recommendation
The Election Commission's renewed warning serves as a clear message that procedural integrity must be maintained throughout the election period, ensuring that all government actions comply with established democratic norms and election regulations.
