No bar under code of conduct in public service functioning

GUWAHATI: With the Assam assembly election model code of conduct coming into force a little ahead of expectations, the business fraternity in the state has gone jittery fearing that their investments in government projects would have to wait for some time for the returns to come.

 

The code of conduct came into force immediately after the Election Commission of India announced the state poll dates on Friday afternoon. Assam will go to polls on March 27 and April 1 and 6 and the results will be announced on May 2.

 

The announcement of dates for the assembly elections in Assam gave birth to curiosity among a section of businesspersons, contractors and builders, etc if their return of investment is going to be held up.

 

ALSO READ: Ex-NDFB men supporting BPF persecuted by BJP-UPPL: Hagrama Mohilary

 

However, the model code of conduct is basically a set of guidelines to regulate activities of political parties and candidates prior to elections to ensure fair and free elections. A section of government officials and employees, however, use it as an opportunity to mislead a section of ignorant people either to derive some undue benefits or sometimes even to skip work, said a legal expert.

 

During the period, the decisions related to monetary policy are unhindered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

 

ALSO READ: Hagrama Mohilary speaks on pre-poll alliances; Here’s what he said

 

There are some flexibilities such as:

* There shall be no bar on the release of funds for the completed portion of any work, subject to observance of laid down procedures and concurrence of the finance department.

* New projects that have a mandatory contractual obligation to start and end the work within a given time frame, the tender has been floated, evaluated, and awarded, or even if full funding had been tied up before model code of conduct came into effect.

* Payment directly to the hospitals from the chief minister’s/prime minister’s relief funds is permissible.

* With the approval of the election commission, any selective assistance to a group of persons from PM’s/CM’s Relief Fund can be made.

*Global tenders already floated, can be evaluated and finalized where any time limit is specified for such purpose. If global tenders have not been floated yet, shall not be floated with the approval of the election commission.

* With prior permission from the election commission, new work and measures aimed to prevent the effects of natural disasters shall be done.

 

Source - Election Commission of India