Skip to main content

Model Code of Conduct & its Evolution

Free and fair elections form the bed rock of democracy. This envisages a level playing field for the contestants and an equal opportunity for all parties for presenting their policies and programmes to voters.  In this context the Model Code of Conduct(MCC) gains relevance. The MCC intends to provide a level playing field for all political parties, keep the campaign fair and healthy, avoid clashes and conflicts between parties, and ensure peace and order. It aims to ensure that the ruling party, either at the Centre or in the states, does not misuse its official position to gain an unfair advantage in an election. This instrument is a major contribution of Indian electoral system to the cause of democracy.

The MCC is a set of norms for conduct and behavior on the part of the Parties and candidates, in particular. The uniqueness of the MCC is the fact that this was a document that originated and evolved with the consensus of the political parties. The origin of the MCC dates back to 1960 when the MCC started as a small set of Dos and Don’ts for the Assembly election in Kerala in 1960. The Code covered conducting of election meetings/processions, speeches, slogans, posters and placards (CEC-Shri K.V.K.Sundaram). In 1962 Lok Sabha General Elections, the Commission circulated this code to all the recognized political parties and the State Governments were requested to secure the acceptance of the Code by the Parties. (CEC-Shri K.V.K.Sundaram). Report received after the 1962 general election showed that the Code was followed by and large. In 1967, the Code was followed in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.(CEC-Shri K.V.K.Sundaram).

Evolution of the MCC and its implementation since 1967


·     In 1968, the Election Commission held meetings with political parties at State level and circulated the Code of Conduct to observe minimum standard of behavior to ensure free and fair elections. (CEC-Shri S.P. Sen Verma)
·     In 1971-72, during General Election to the House of the People/State Legislative Assemblies the Commission circulated the Code again.  (CEC-Shri S.P. Sen Verma)
·     At the time of general elections to some State Assemblies in 1974, the Commission issued the code of conduct to the political parties in those States.
The Commission also suggested constituting committees at district level headed by the District Collector and comprising representatives of political parties as members for considering cases of violation of the code and ensuring its compliance by all parties and candidates.
·     For the 1977 Lok Sabha general election, the Code was again circulated to the political parties. (CEC-Shri T. Swaminathan).
·     In 1979, Election Commission, in consultation with the political parties further amplified the code, adding a new Section placing restrictions on the “Party in power” so as to prevent cases of abuse of position of power to get undue advantage over other parties and candidates. (CEC-Shri S.L.Shakhdar)
·     In 1991, the code was consolidated and re-issued in its present form.  (CEC-Shri T.N.Seshan).
·     The present code contains guidelines for general conduct of political parties and candidates (no attack on private life, no appeal to communal feelings, discipline and decorum in meetings, processions, guidelines for party in power – official machinery and facilities not to be used for electioneering, prohibition against Ministers and other authorities in announcing grants, new schemes etc).
·     Ministers and those holding public offices are not allowed to combine official visits with electioneering tours.
·     Issue of advertisements at the cost of public exchequer is prohibited.
·     Grants, new schemes / projects cannot be announced. Even the schemes that may have been announced before the MCC came into force, but that has not actually taken off in terms of implementation on field are also required to be put on hold.
·     It is through such restrictions that the advantage of being in power is blunted and the contestants get the opportunity to fight on more or less equal terms.
·     MCC has got the judicial recognition of the highest court of land. The dispute over the date when the Model Code of Conduct should come into force -- the issuance of the press release by EC announcing the poll dates or the date of actual notification in this regard was resolved in the Union of India Vs. Harbans Sigh Jalal and Others [SLP (Civil) No.22724 of 1997)]  decided on 26.04.2001. The apex court gave the ruling that the Code of Conduct would come into force the moment the Commission issues the press release, which precedes the notification by a good two weeks. This ruling lay at rest the controversy related to the dates of enforcement of MCC. Thus the MCC remains in force from the date of announcement of elections till the completion of elections.

Legal Status for Model Code: Views of the Election Commission


There is an opinion in certain quarters for providing legal status to MCC. The Election Commission has, however, taken a stand against granting of such status to MCC. According to the Commission bringing the MCC on the statute book will only be counter-productive. In our country, elections are conducted within a very limited time span according to a well laid down schedule. Normally, a general election in a State is completed in about 45 days, from the day of announcement of the election schedule by the Commission.  Thus, the expedition and promptness in dealing with the cases of violation of the model code of conduct is of the essence.  If no timely action is taken to curb the violations and against the violators of the model code during the limited period when the election process is on, the whole significance of the MCC would be lost and the violator would be able to reap the benefit of such violation. If the model code of conduct is converted into a law, this would mean that a complaint would lie to the police/Magistrate. The procedures involved in judicial proceedings being what they are, a decision on such complaints would most likely come only long after the election is completed.  

MCC is not a Hindrance to Developmental activities


One often gets to hear the complaint that the MCC is coming in the way of developmental activities. However, even during the short period when MCC is in operation, the ongoing development activities are not stopped and are allowed to proceed unhindered, and only the new projects, etc. which have not taken off on the ground that have to  be deferred till the completion of elections.  If there is any work that cannot wait for any reason (relief work on account of any calamity, etc), the matter can be referred to the Commission for clearance.

It is apt to refer to the following passage from a  very recent Judgment (dated 16.02.2012) of the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) in Writ Petition No. 1361 of 2012 (Dr. Nutan Thakur Vs. Election Commission of India):

Comments

  1. What is the punishment if some party/leader violates it? Has it ever happened in history? And does any group (election commission observers/ Police or any other group) get disproportionate power which they can misue to benefit certain party/leader?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are provisions of punishment under Representation of people's act and IPC and various other existing laws which can come into force on violation of MCC.... there have been many instance where people have been booked for electoral offence ....
      Since there are many layers of checks and balances there is almost negligible chance of misusing MCC by any party

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

कर्ण और कृष्ण का संवाद - रामधारी सिंह 'दिनकर'

Following is excerpt from poem Rashmirathi written by Ram dhari singh dinkar. Karna reply to Krishna when he told story of his birth and ask him to join pandava side. सुन-सुन कर कर्ण अधीर हुआ, क्षण एक तनिक गंभीर हुआ,  फिर कहा "बड़ी यह माया है, जो कुछ आपने बताया है  दिनमणि से सुनकर वही कथा मैं भोग चुका हूँ ग्लानि व्यथा  मैं ध्यान जन्म का धरता हूँ, उन्मन यह सोचा करता हूँ,  कैसी होगी वह माँ कराल, निज तन से जो शिशु को निकाल  धाराओं में धर आती है, अथवा जीवित दफनाती है?  सेवती मास दस तक जिसको, पालती उदर में रख जिसको,  जीवन का अंश खिलाती है, अन्तर का रुधिर पिलाती है  आती फिर उसको फ़ेंक कहीं, नागिन होगी वह नारि नहीं  हे कृष्ण आप चुप ही रहिये, इस पर न अधिक कुछ भी कहिये  सुनना न चाहते तनिक श्रवण, जिस माँ ने मेरा किया जनन  वह नहीं नारि कुल्पाली थी, सर्पिणी परम विकराली थी  पत्थर समान उसका हिय था, सुत से समाज बढ़ कर प्रिय था  गोदी में आग लगा कर के, मेरा कुल-वंश छिपा कर के  दुश्मन का उसने काम किया, माताओं को बदनाम किया  माँ का पय भी न पीया मैंने, उलटे अभिशाप लिया मैंने  वह तो यशस्विनी बनी रह

एक पुलिसवाले की व्यथा

लोग अक्सर कहते हैं कि पुलिस सही तरीके से क्राइम कंट्रोल नहीं करती है लेकिन पुलिस करे तो करे क्या। उग्र भीड़ को क्राइम कंट्रोल करने पर आधारित एक लघु कथा। उन्मादी भीड़ हाथों में नंगी तलवारें, लाठी, डंडे लिए पागलों की तरह पुलिस वालों को पत्थर मार मार कर खदेड़ रही थी। उसकी पुलिस भीड़ से अपना असलाह और खुद को बचाते हुए पीछे हट रही थी। थानेदार का सर बुरी तरह फूट गया दो सिपाही उसे सँभालते हुए पीछे हट रहे थे बड़े अफसर, एस डी ऍम, सब मौके से गायब थे। ऑर्रडर देने वाला कोई दूर दूर तक नहीं था। भीड़ हावी होती जा रही थी। सब को कहीं न कही चोट लगी थी।भीड़ को लाठी डंडो से काबू करने के हालात तो बिलकुल भी नहीं थे। सबकी जान पर बनी हुई थी परंतु हाथ में लोड राइफल होते हुए भी जवान गोली चलाने से बच रहे थे, कैसी कायर स्तिथि थी। अचानक हवलदार बुधना को भीड़ ने पकड़ लिया और एक आदमी ने बुधना के सर पर कैरोसिन की गैलन उंडेल दी और दूसरे ने माचिस निकाली ही थी की धाँय की आवाज हुई और माचिस वाला जमीं पर लुढकने लगा।दूसरी आवाज में तेल के गैलन वाला जमीं पर कला बाजी खा रहा था । भीड़ जहां थी वहीँ थम गयी और उलटे पावँ भागने लगी लेकिन......अ

Scheme for creation of National Optical Fiber Network for Broadband connectivity of Panchayats

The Union Cabinet recently approved a scheme for creation of a National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) for providing Broadband connectivity to Panchayats. The objective of the scheme is to extend the existing optical fiber network which is available up to district / block HQ’s level to the Gram Panchayat level initially by utilizing the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The cost of this initial phase of the NOFN scheme is likely to be about Rs.20,000 crore. A similar amount of investment is likely to be made by the private sector complementing the NOFN infrastructure while providing services to individual users. In economic terms, the benefits from the scheme are expected through additional employment, e-education, e-health, e-agriculture etc. and reduction in migration of rural population to urban areas. As per a study conducted by the World Bank, with every 10% increase in broadband penetration, there is an increase in GDP growth by 1.4%. NOFN will also facilitate implemen

रश्मिरथी ( सप्तम सर्ग ): कर्ण वध - रामधारी सिंह 'दिनकर'

1 निशा बीती, गगन का रूप दमका, किनारे पर किसी का चीर चमका। क्षितिज के पास लाली छा रही है, अतल से कौन ऊपर आ रही है ? संभाले शीश पर आलोक-मंडल दिशाओं में उड़ाती ज्योतिरंचल, किरण में स्निग्ध आतप फेंकती-सी, शिशिर कम्पित द्रुमों को सेंकती-सी, खगों का स्पर्श से कर पंख-मोचन कुसुम के पोंछती हिम-सिक्त लोचन, दिवस की स्वामिनी आई गगन में, उडा कुंकुम, जगा जीवन भुवन में । मगर, नर बुद्धि-मद से चूर होकर, अलग बैठा हुआ है दूर होकर, उषा पोंछे भला फिर आँख कैसे ? करे उन्मुक्त मन की पाँख कैसे ? मनुज विभ्राट् ज्ञानी हो चुका है, कुतुक का उत्स पानी हो चुका है, प्रकृति में कौन वह उत्साह खोजे ? सितारों के हृदय में राह खोजे ? विभा नर को नहीं भरमायगी यह है ? मनस्वी को कहाँ ले जायगी यह ? कभी मिलता नहीं आराम इसको, न छेड़ो, है अनेकों काम इसको । महाभारत मही पर चल रहा है, भुवन का भाग्य रण में जल रहा है। मनुज ललकारता फिरता मनुज को, मनुज ही मारता फिरता मनुज को । पुरुष की बुद्धि गौरव खो चुकी है, सहेली सर्पिणी की हो चुकी है, न छोड़ेगी किसी अपकर्म को वह, निगल ही जायगी सद्धर्म को वह । मरे अभिमन्यु अथवा भीष्म टूटें, पिता के प्राण

किसको नमन करूँ मैं भारत? - Kisko Naman Karu Mein Bharat?

A poem dedicated to the nation written by Ramdhari Singh "dinkar"... तुझको या तेरे नदीश, गिरि, वन को नमन करूँ, मैं ? मेरे प्यारे देश ! देह या मन को नमन करूँ मैं ? किसको नमन करूँ मैं भारत ? किसको नमन करूँ मैं ? भू के मानचित्र पर अंकित त्रिभुज, यही क्या तू है ? नर के नभश्चरण की दृढ़ कल्पना नहीं क्या तू है ? भेदों का ज्ञाता, निगूढ़ताओं का चिर ज्ञानी है मेरे प्यारे देश ! नहीं तू पत्थर है, पानी है जड़ताओं में छिपे किसी चेतन को नमन करूँ मैं ? भारत नहीं स्थान का वाचक, गुण विशेष नर का है एक देश का नहीं, शील यह भूमंडल भर का है जहाँ कहीं एकता अखंडित, जहाँ प्रेम का स्वर है देश-देश में वहाँ खड़ा भारत जीवित भास्कर है निखिल विश्व को जन्मभूमि-वंदन को नमन करूँ मैं ! खंडित है यह मही शैल से, सरिता से सागर से पर, जब भी दो हाथ निकल मिलते आ द्वीपांतर से तब खाई को पाट शून्य में महामोद मचता है दो द्वीपों के बीच सेतु यह भारत ही रचता है मंगलमय यह महासेतु-बंधन को नमन करूँ मैं ! दो हृदय के तार जहाँ भी जो जन जोड़ रहे हैं मित्र-भाव की ओर विश्व की