EC extends Model Code of Conduct restrictions to retired govt officials in five poll-bound states
PTC News Desk: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday extended Model Code of Conduct (MCC) restrictions to retired government officials working with the governments of poll-bound Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
The Commission sent a letter to the chief secretaries and chief electoral officers of all five states, asking them to follow the new directions.
The EC clarified that the Model Code of Conduct applies to all government-funded organisations, committees, corporations and commissions, including those that receive only partial government funding. Their employees must also follow the rules.
"The Commission has in the past, in respect of the conduct of government employees, issued instructions stating that they are not expected to take part in any election campaign or canvassing and should take scrupulous care not to lend their names, official position or authority to assist one individual/ political party/ group as against another,” the EC said.
The Commission said existing rules in these states prevent serving government employees from taking part in political activities or elections. However, there were no clear rules for retired officials who continue to work for state or Union Territory governments after retirement.
To address this issue, the EC has directed that the same restrictions that apply to serving government employees will also apply to retired officials who are hired or re-employed by state or UT governments during the MCC period.
The Commission has also directed state governments not to call election-related officers from constituencies or districts where elections have been announced for official meetings or discussions. They have also been barred from holding video conferences with these officers.
Warning of strict action, the EC said any violation of its directions would be taken seriously. It also asked the state governments to inform all concerned officials about the instructions to ensure they are followed.
An EC official said the decision was taken after internal discussions. The official said several retired officers continue working with state governments, and the Commission had received complaints about their conduct during previous elections. Therefore, it decided to extend the restrictions to them as well.
The letter also referred to EC instructions issued in 1984 and 1991. These rules state that government employees cannot campaign for political parties or candidates. They are also not allowed to use their names, official positions or authority to support one party or candidate over another.
The Commission further pointed out that government employees are barred from taking part in political activities under service rules.
The EC has imposed similar restrictions on re-employed officials in the past. In its 2022 pre-election instructions for the same five states, it had said that officials whose service had been extended or who had been re-employed could not be given election-related duties, except those working in the Chief Electoral Officer's office.
A similar clarification was also included in the EC's transfer guidelines issued in January 2019.
- PTC NEWS
