HC Seeks ECI Reply On Petition Questioning Non-application Of Model Code Of Conduct On Prime Minister

Lucknow, July 27 (TNA) While hearing a petition filed by Rashtriya Rashtravadi Party through its President Pratap Chandra, challenging the non-application of Model Code of Conduct to Prime Minister during elections, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Tuesday asked the Election Commission of India to file its reply within four weeks, fixing August 31as the next date.

The bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Ravi Nath Tilhari passed this order after hearing petitioners’ counsel Nutan Thakur and Commission counsel O P Srivastava.

Nutan told the Court that the Commission framed Model Code of Conduct which is a set of guidelines issued for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections. This includes the rule that the Ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work

The Prime Minister Office requested the Commission on October 7, 2014 to grant one time exemption from MCC but the Commission exempted the PM from the operation of these provision for all future elections, which is against the principle of level playing field, the lawyer told the court.