EC Faces Monumental Challenge Of Clearing Govt Proposals

New Delhi: Even as it is going through sleepless nights for the smooth conduct of polls, the Election Commission here is confronted with another monumental challenge – clearing mountains of government files that keep piling on its table day in and day out.

According to Economic Times, about 600 proposals were awaiting the Commission’s nod ever since the model code of conduct came into force.

The proposals sent for clearance includes roll out of e-Kisan, EWS quota, appointment of vice-chancellors, MNREGA fund release, etc.

Such has been the work pressure that the Commission has written to the Cabinet Secretary on Wednesday to make it clear that it would accept administrative proposals sent for clearance only from officials of the rank of Joint Secretary and above.

The letter, according to an Economic Times report, said only matters of ‘topmost urgency’ would be processed in 48 hours.

All major government decisions need an EC nod when the model code is in place. The poll panel’s scrutiny is mandated to ensure that the ruling party does not announce decisions or doles out funds to influence voters.

The paper said the EC has managed to clear hundreds of proposals during this week including one related to the release of the latest edition of the National Institutional Ranking on the condition that no political mileage be derived. Minister Prakash Javadekar, hence, skipped the event.