E.C. calls meet on model code

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 3. The Election Commission has convened an all- party meeting on September 16 here in a bid to evolve a consensus on the contentious issue of implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. This exercise assumes significance in view of the Assembly polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Pondicherry slated for early next year.

The E.C. has maintained that the Model Code of Conduct should come into force from the date of announcement of the elections, but the Government stand has been that it should be made applicable from the date of notification of the polls.

In a letter to the national and regional recognised political parties, the Commission drew their attention to the Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment which held that the ``Commission can issue directions that the Model Code of Conduct should be observed by political parties, including the parties in power at the Centre and in the States, from the date of announcement of the election''. The Centre had filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court which is still pending.

``While the matter is pending before the Supreme Court, the Minister of State for Law, Justice and Company Affairs, and the Election Commission have held a meeting, in which it was decided that the content of the Code should not be touched and that an all-party meeting may be convened by the Commission to decide the question of the date from which the Code should be enforced,'' it said.

On earlier occasions too, the Commission has held regular meetings with recognised political parties on the eve of Parliamentary and State elections. In each meeting, the Code of Conduct has been reaffirmed by the political parties and accepted as playing an effective role to maintain the health of the electoral system.

Gill's view

UNI reports:

All major national parties seem to be ranged against the E.C. on this issue. Observing the paradoxical stand of the parties, the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr. M.S. Gill, notes that when in power, parties want the application of the code of conduct to be postponed, but when out of power, they plead with the Commission for its enforcement from the announcement of elections, as laid down in the code.

The code of conduct, agreed to by political parties in 1968, restricts announcement of policy decisions and programmes and use of Government machinery once elections are announced.

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