Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 19: Expressing serious concern over the blatant violation of the orders of Election Commission of India (ECI) over the issue of invocation of Model Code of Conduct by the J&K Govt, NPP chairman and former Minister Harsh Dev Singh today sought immediate intervention of the top Election Authority of the country in the interests of free and fair elections in the State.
Referring to the ECI’s directives on the applicability of the MCC to be followed by a caretaker Government in cases of pre-mature dissolution of a State Assembly, at a press conference here today, Singh disclosed that ECI’s order issued last year, categorically stated that the Model Code of Conduct will come into operation with immediate effect following the premature dissolution of Assembly in the State concerned and shall continue to be in force till the completion of the election to constitute the new Legislative Assembly. The directives further stated that the provisions of Part-VII of the MCC shall apply on the caretaker State Government as well as on the Central Government in the matters relating to that State, adding that neither the caretaker State Government nor the Central Government shall announce any new schemes, projects, etc. in the State or undertake any of the activities prohibited under the aforesaid Part-VII of the MCC.
He said that ECI categorically conveyed its order through a letter addressed to Union Cabinet Secretary and all the Chief Secretaries of States and UTs quoting, “The caretaker Government should merely carry on the day-to-day affairs, desist from taking any major policy situation decision and run the administration for the purpose of free, fair, transparent and robust electoral process”.
He asked how and why this order is being brazenly violated in the State. ” How did some of the officers particularly of District Udhampur allow ex-MLAs to use CDF through their weird order? How the new projects/schemes were being announced on day-to- day basis with a particular political party taking credit for the same? ” questioned Harsh Dev.
He appealed the ECI to immediately enforce MCC in the State in conformity with its directives issued last year and take a decision for holding early elections in the light of legal position on the subject.
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