Model Code of Conduct of the Election Commission of India

Election Commission and its role

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body of the nation. It ensures its observance by political party(ies) in power, including ruling parties at the centre and in the States and contesting candidates in the discharge of its constitutional duties for conducting free, fair and peaceful elections. It was established on January 25, 1950 under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.

Functions of the Election Commission of India

1. Demarcation of Constituencies

2. Preparation of Electoral Rolls

3. Recognition of Political parties and allotment of symbols

4. Announcement of election dates

5. Scrutiny of nomination papers

6. Conduct of polls

7. Scrutiny of election expenses of candidates

The commission presently consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners , appointed by the President of India.

Election Commission of India

Election Commissioners

S.Y. Quraishi V.S. Sampath

Chief Election Commissioner

Navin Chawla

Structure of the Election Commission

Chief Election Commissioners of India

R.V.S. Peri Sastri : 1 January 1986 to 25 November 1990

R.K. Trivedi : 18 June 1982 to 31 December 1985

S.L. Shakdhar : 18 June 1977 to 17 June 1982

T. Swaminathan : 7 February 1973 to 17 June 1977

Nagendra Singh : 1 October 1972 to 6 February 1973

S.P. Sen Verma : 1 October 1967 to 30 September 1972

K.V.K. Sundaram : 20 December 1958 to 30 September 1967

Sukumar Sen : 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958

Chief Election Commissioners of India

Navin Chawla : 21 April 2009 to till date

N. Gopalaswami : 29 June 2006 to 20 April 2009

B.B. Tandon : 16 May 2005 to 28 June 2006

T.S. Krishnamurthy : 8 February 2004 to 15 May 2005

J.M. Lyngdoh : 14 June 2001 to 7 February 2004

M.S. Gill : 12 December 1996 to 13 June 2001

T.N. Seshan : 12 December 1990 to 11 December 1996

V.S. Ramadevi : 26 November 1990 to 11 December 1990

What is the Model code of conduct?

The Model code of conduct is a set of norms which has been evolved with the consensus of political parties who; have consented to abide by the principles embodied in the said code and also binds them to respect and observe it in its letter and spirit.

General Conduct No party or candidate shall include in any activity

which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes, communities, religious.

There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.

No political party or candidate shall permit its or his followers to make use of any individual’s land, building, compound wall, etc., without his permission for erecting flags poles, suspending banners, pasting notices, painting slogans and political symbols.

General Conduct continued

Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work. Parties and Candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.

All parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are "corrupt practices” and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 meters of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll, and the transport and conveyance of voters to and from polling station.

Conduct in meetings

The party or candidate shall inform the local police authorities of the venue and time any proposed meeting. Well in time so as to enable the police to make necessary arrangements for controlling/regulating traffic and maintaining peace and order.

If permission or license is to be granted for the use of loudspeakers or any sort of facility in connection with any proposed meeting the party or the candidate shall apply to the concerned authority well in advance

Conduct in meetings continued

A party or candidate shall ascertain in advance if there is any restrictive or prohibitory order in force in the place proposed for the meeting if such orders exists, they shall be followed strictly. If any exemption is required from such order .

Organizers of a meeting shall invariably seek the assistance of the police on duty for dealing with persons disturbing a meeting or otherwise attempting to create disorder. Organizers themselves shall not take action against such persons.

Conduct on polling days

All political parties and candidates shall : Co-operate with the officers on election duty to

ensure peaceful and orderly polling and complete freedom to the voters to exercise their franchise without being subjected to any sort of obstructions or disturbances

Supply to their authorized workers suitable badges or identity cards

Agree that the identity slip supplied by them to the voters hall be on a plain (white) paper and shall not contain any symbol or text in connection with the party

Conduct on polling days continued

refrain from serving or distributing liquor on polling day and during the forty eight hours preceding it

not allow unnecessary crowd to be collected near the camps set up by the political parties and candidates near the polling booths so as to avoid confrontation and tension among workers and sympathizers of the parties and the candidate.

ensure that the candidate’s camps shall be simple .The shall not display any posters, flags, symbols or any other propaganda material. No eatable shall be served or crowd allowed at the camps.

Conduct on polling days

co-operate with the authorities in complying with the restrictions to be imposed on the plying of vehicles on the polling day and obtain permits for them which should be displayed prominently on those vehicles.

Conduct in Polling BoothsMinisters of Central or State Government shall not enter any polling station or place of counting except in their capacity as a candidate or voter or authorized agent.

By J K Ram Kumar

IX BTPSBBMS ,

Porur