EC slaps notice for Model Code violation
The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to DDA officials for violation of Model Code of Conduct in connection with shifting of Kathputli Colony near Shadipur flyover in Rajinder Nagar. Issuing a showcause notice to SK Jain, director/nodal officer, land Management West Zone, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), New Delhi District Election Officer Ameya Abhyankar has directed to explain the circumstances leading to violation of Model Code of Conduct within 24 hours. “Why you have failed in the compliance of Election Commission’s directions and not stopping the process of shifting of the residents of Kathputli Colony to Anand Parbat should not be initiated against you as well as DDA and other officers directly/indirectly associated in the violation of MCC as well as the direction of Election Commission of India. In the event, if the shifting was initiated as per directions of any court’s order, why the contents of the Election Commission’s order were not brought to the notice of the court so that the court should have been seized of the matter before passing the order and why the final direction of the court order was not brought to the notice of the Election Commission,” the showcause notice said.
The show cause notice was issued after a complaint from BJP MlA RP Singh on the shifting of residents of Kathputli Colony. Singh has lodged a complaint to the office of the Electoral Office, alleging that DDA in connivance with sitting MP Ajay Maken from New Delhi is shifting householders/residents of Kathputli Colony.
The ECI in its order has stated that the Commission has decided in all the interest of free and fair elections and to maintain the fidelity of electoral rolls that any demolition/eviction drives should be temporarily suspended and should not be carried out by any government agency/civic agencies between now and the completion of the General Election. If there is any problem, then the State Government may bring it to the notice of the Commission,” the order said.