Election Commission of India (ECI) has said that references from the Government of India to the commission should be sent via Cabinet Secretary. Similarly, the State Government’s references should be routed through Chief Electoral Officers (CEO).
Various ministries, departments and public sector undertakings had sought clarification about some issues pertaining to model code of conduct. Earlier also, the commission had given directives regarding implementation of various schemes, projects and rural development works. Despite this, large number of references is being sent directly to the commission.
Some of these are not of urgent nature and can wait till after elections. According to the commission, various ministries and departments are sending references without properly going through guidelines available on its website. In view of this, the commission has reiterated that all references proposed to be put before the cabinet or a cabinet committee should be routed to the commission through Cabinet Secretary, not directly.
Ministries, departments and public sector undertakings will send their references through concerning ministry/department. According to the commission, CEOs should not send those references to it about which they can decide themselves. Only those references should be sent to the commission in which there is doubt whether they are covered under the existing guidelines of the commission or not.