Code of Conduct

DO's & DON'T's

(Election Commission of India's
Letter No. 464/INST/2007-PLN-1
Dated 07101/2007)

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ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA 1 .

Nirva~wh.a!Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-l 10001 '«IN•• I .. ~:

464IINSTi2007-PLN-I Dateu 07.01.2007

To,
1. The Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs

2. The Chief Electoral Officers of all States and UTs

SUB:- CODE OF CONDUCT . - DO's & 'DONT's -

Sir,

The Commission has issued various instructions on observance of code of

conduct from time to time. Important aspects of the code of conduct are
reiterated below:

On Welfare schenles and governmontal work~

1. Announcement of new projects or programme or concessions or

financial grants in any form or promises thereof or iaylng of
foundation stones, etc., wh£ch have the t:ffect of influencing the
voters in favour of the party In power Is prohibited.

2. These restrictions apply equally tc new schemes and also ongoing

schemes. But it does not mean that in the case of national, regional
and State utility schemes, which hav:: already been brought up to the
stage of completion, their utilization or functioning in public interest
should be stopped or delayed. The c.orning into force of the Model
Code of Conduct cannot be given as an excuse for not commissioning
such schemes or allowing them to remain idle. At the same time; it
should be ensured that the commissioning of such schemes is done
by civil authority and without associating political functionaries and
without any fanfare or ceremonies whatever, so that no impression is
given or created that such commissioning has been done with a view
to influencing the electorate in favour of the ruling party. If in doubt,
a clarification should be obtained from Chief Electoral
Officer/Ele9tion Commission of India.

3. It is further clarified that

. simply because a budget provision has been
/

made for any particular scheme or the scheme has been sanctioned
earlier or a reference to the scheme was made in the address of the
Governor or the budget speech of the Minister it does not automatically·
mean that such schemes can be announced or inaugurated or
otherwise taken up after the announcement of elections while the
~~
 Model Code of conduct IS in operation, since they will clearly be
intended to' influence the voters. Such actions if undertaken will be
considered a violation of the model code of conduct.
4. No fresh sanctions for governmental·schemes should be made.
Review by political executive (Ministers etc.) and processing of
beneficiary oriented schemes, even if ongoing, should be stopped
till completion of elections. No fresh release of funds on welfare
schemes and works should be made or contract for works
awarded in any part of the state where election is in progress
without prior permission of the Commission. This includes works
under the, Member of Parliament .(including Rajya Sabha
members) Local Area Development .fund or MLAs I MLCs Local
Area Development Fund, if any such scheme is in operation In the
state.
S. No work shall start in respect of which even if work orders have
been issued before the model code came Into effect, If the work
has actually not started in the field. These works can start only
after the completion of election process. However, if a work has
actually started, that can continue.
6. There _~all be no bar to the release of payments for completed work(s)
subject to the full satisfaction of the concerned officials.
7. Commission does not refuse approval for schemes undertaken for
tackling emergencies or unforeseen calamities like providing relief to
people suffering from, drought, floods, pestilences, other natural
calamities or welfare measures for the aged, infirm etc. In these
matters, however, prior approval of the Commission should be taken
and all ostentatious functions should be strictly avoided and no
impression should be given or allowed'to be .created that such welfare
measures or relief and rehabilitation works are being undertaken by
the Government in office so as to influeoce the electors in favour of the
party in power which at the, same time will adversely affect ·the
prospects of the other parties.
On Transfers and posting of officials:

The Commission directs that there shall be a total ban on the transfer of all
officers/officials connected with the conduct of the .electlon. These include
but are not restricted to: -

(i) The Chief Electoral Officer and Additional/Joint/Deputy Chief Electoral

Officers;
(ii) Divisional Commissioners;
 (iii) The District Election Officers, Returning Officers, Assistant Returning
Officers and other Revenue Officers connected with the Conduct of
'Elections;
(iv) Officers of the Police Department connected with the ,management of
ejections like range IGs and DIGs, Senior Superintendents of Police and
Superintendents of Police, Sub-divisionat level Police Officers like
Deputy Superintendents of Police and other Police officers who are
deputed to the .Commission under section 28A of the Representation of
the People Act, 1951;
(v) Other officers drafted for election works like sector and zonal officers,
Transport cell, EvM cell, Poll material procurement & distribution cell,
Training cell, Printing Cell etc. Senior officers, who have a role in the
management of election in the State, are also covered by this direction.
(vi) The transfer orders issued in respect of the above categories of officers
prior to the date of announcement but not implemented till the time when
model code came into effect should not be given effect to without
obtaining specific permission from the Commission.
(vii) This ban shall be effective till the completion of the election process.
(viii) In those cases where transfer of an officer is considered necessary on
account of administrative exigencies, the State Government may, with
full justification, approach the Commission for prior clearance.
(ix) Nc:> appointments or promotions in Government I Public
Undertakings shall be made during this period, without prior
clearance of the Commission.

On Misuse of Official Machin~ry:

1. Official vehicles cannot be used for electioneering work. 'Official

Vehicles' include all vehicles belonging to the·
o Central Government,
o State Government,
o Public Undertakings of the Central and State Government.
o Joint Sector Undertakings of Central and 'State Government,
o Local Bodies, Municipal Corporations, Municipalities,
o Maiketing Boards (by whatever name known),
o Cooperative Societies,
o Autonomous District Councils, or
o Any other body in which public funds, howsoever small a portion of
the total, are invested, and also
o Vehicles belonging to the Ministry 'of Defense and the Central Polic~
Organizations under the Ministry of Home Affairs and State
Governments.
 2. It is open for a minister of the Union or State to make private visits
using bis or her private vehiciets). For such private vlstts, the official
personal staff of tho mlnisters shall not accompany them. However,
if a Minister is traveling in some emergent situation, out of his HCl on
purely official business, which cannot be avold~Jd in public Interest,
then a letter certifying to this effect should be sent 'from the
Secretary concerned of the Department to the Chief Secrotary ot the
state where: the Minister lntends to visit, with a copy to the
Commission. During such tour, the Chief Secretary may provide the
Minister with Government vehicle and accommodation anci other
usual courtesies for his official trip. however, immediately preceding
or during or in continuation of such an official tour, no minister can
carry out or combine any election campaign or political activity. The
Commission will keep watch on such' arrangements In due
consultation with its Chief Electoral Officer.
3. No Minister, whether of union or state, will summon any election related
officer of the constituency or the State, for any official discussionsdurinq
the period of elections commencing with the announcement of the
elections. Only exception will be when a Minister, in his capacity as in
charge of the department concerned, or a Chief Minister undertakes an
official visit to a constituency, in connection with failure of law and order or
a natural calamity or any such emergency which requires personal
presence of such Ministers/Chief Ministers for the specific purpose of
supervising review/saivagelrelief and such like purpose.
4.
.
Ministers am entitled to use their official vehicles only tot' commuting
'
from their official residence to their office for official work provided
that such commuting is net combined with any elbctionecning or any
political activity.
5. Ministers, whether of 'he Union or State, shall not combine In any
manner their official tours with election work.
6. Whether on a private or ofnci~l visit, no pHot carts) or car(s) with
beacon lights of any cokiur or carts] affixed with sirens of any kind
shall be used by any political funetionary, even if tho State
administration has granted him .a SHr:brjty cover requiring presence
of armed guards to «-ccompany hlm on such visit. This is ,applicable
whether the vehlclo is government owned or private owned.
7. Any official who meets the Minister 011 hi~ private visit to the constituency
where elections are being held shaf be guilty of misconduct under the
relevant service rules; and if he happens to be an ofJicial mentioned in
Section 128 (t) of the R8piesentatiaf'l of People Act, '1951, he shall also
 . . .
be additionally considered to have violated the statutory provisions of that
Section and liable to penal action provided thereunder .
. OTHER 'DOS AND DON'TS' FOR THE GUIDANCE OF THE CANDIDATES AND
POLITICAL PARTIES TO BE OBSERVED FRqM THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN
ELECTION AND ·UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE PROCESS OF ELECTION.
The Commission has drawn up a list of ados' and 'don'ts' to be followed by
candidates' and political parties after the announcement 0f elections and till the
completion of the process of elections. The Commission has directed that this be given
the widest possible publicity and its contents brought to the knowledge of all candidates
and political parties including in the official language of the State.
It must be clear:y brought to the notice of candidates and political partiesthat the
list of Dos' and Donts' is only illustrative and not exhaustiveand is not Intended
to substitute or modify other detailed directions/instructions on the above
subjects, which must be strictly observedand folfoV'led.
DO'S'

(1) Ongoing programmes, whlch actually started in the field before the
announcementof elections may continue. .
(2) Relief and rehabilitation measures to the people in areas affected by· floods,
drought, pestilence, and other natural calamities, ca.: commence and continue.

(3) Grant of cash or medical facilities to terlnil.dlly or critically ill persons can
continue with appropriate approvals.

(4) Public places like maidans must be available impartially to parties/contesting

candidates for holding election meeting», So also usa of helipads must be
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available impartially to elll parties/contesting candidates, to ensure a level playing
field.

(5) Criticism of other political parties and candidates should relate to their policies,
programme, past record and work. .

(6) The right of every individual for peaceful and undisturbed home life should be fully
safeguarded.
(7) The local police authorities should be fully informed of the venue and
time of the proposed meetings welt in time and all n.ecessaryperm~ssions
taken.
(8) If there are any restrictive or prohibitory orders in force in the place of the
proposed meeting. they shall be fully respected. Exemption, if necessary, must
be applied for and obtained well in time. .
(9) Permi~iL''l must be obtainedfor the use of loudspeakersor any othersuch
facilitiesfor the proposedmeetings. . ;

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 (10) The .assistance of the police should be obtained in dealing with persons
disturbing meetings or otherwise creating disorder.
,(11) The time and place of the starting of any .procession, the route to be
followed and the time and place at which the procession will terminate
should be settled in advance and advance permissions obtalnltd·from the
police authorities.
(12) The existence of any restrictive orders in force in the localities through which the
procession has to pass should be ascertained and fully compr.ed with. So also all
traffic regulations and other restrictions.
(13) The passage of the procession must be without hindrance to trsffic,
(14) Cooperation should be extended to all election officials at all times to ensu
peaceful and orderly poll. '
(15} All Workers must display badges or identity cards.
(16) Unofficial identity slips issued to voters shall be on plain (white) paper and not
contain any symbol, name of the candidate or name of the party.
(17) Restrictions.on plying of vehicles during the ciimpaign period and on· pqll day
shall be fully obeyed. .
(18) (Except voters, candidates and their election/polling agents), on~ persons with
a specific valid 'authority letter from the Election Commission i*an enter any
polling booth. No functionary however .highly placed (e.g. Chief Mi,nister,Minister,
MP or MLA etc) is exempt from this condition. '
, (19) Any complaint or problem regarding' the conduct of elections s~all be brought
to the notice of the ·observer appointed by the Commj~ioniRetuming
OfficerlZonaVSector Magistrate/Election Commission of India. .
(20) Directionslorderslinstructions of the Election Commission, the Returfing Officer, r ~
the District Election Officer shall be obeyed in all matters related to variouS
aspects of election. .
(21) Do leave the constituency after the campaign period is over it: you are not a
voter or a candidate or candidate's election agent from that con.titu~~cy:

DON'Ts
(1) Any and all advertisements at the cost of the public exch~quer; regarding
achievements of the party/Government in power as prohibited.
(2) No Minister shall enterany polling station or the place of c~.untirag, unless
he or she Is a candidate or as a voter only for yothUJ.
(3) Official wo'rk should not at all be mixed with campaignlng/eJtJctlpHeerlng.
(4) No inducement, financial or otherwise,' shall be offered to the voter,
(5) Caste/communal feelings of the electors shall not be,appealed to.
 .' .
No activity, which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or
(6)
cause tension between different castes, communities or religious or linguistic
groups shall be f,lttempted.
No aspect of the private life, not connected with the public activities, of the leaders
(7)
or workers of other parties shall be permitted to be criticized.
Other parties or their workers shall not be criticized based on unverified allegations
(8)
or on distortions.
Temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras or any place of worship shall not be
(9)
used as places for election propaganda. including speeches, posters, music
etc., on electioneering.
Activities which are corrupt practices or electoral offences such .8S bribery.
(10)
undue influence, ifltirnidation of voters, personation; canvassing within ~OO
. meters of a polling station, holding of public meotings during the periOd of 48
hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the paRand conveyance of voters
to and from pollil'\g stations are prohibited.
Demonstrations or picketing before the houses of Individuals by way of
(11)
protesting against their opinion or activities shan not be resorted to.

Subject to the local laws, no one can make ~se of any individual's, land,
(12)
buildi~g,·compound wall, vehicles etc. for erf1ctir:g flag staffs, puttil)g up
banners, .pasting notices or wrIting 'lrogans eic. without Ipltlftc
.pennlsslon of the owner (to uo s~own to and deposited with the bl$trlCt
Election Officer). This includes tt')ih, Il£t'late and publi~ ~roperties.
No disturbances shall be created in pubuc meeth'lgs of processions organised
(13)
by other political parties or candidates.
Processions along places at which another party is holding meeting$
(14)
shall not be undertaken.

(15)
.
Processionists shall not carry any articles, which.are capable of being misused
as missiles or weapons. .
Posters issued by other parties and candidates shall not be removed or
(16)
defaced. . .
posters·, flags. symbols or any other propaganda material shall not be
(17) displayed in the place being used on the day of poll for distribution of identity
slips or near polling booths.
Loudspeakers whether static or mounted on moving vehicles shall not be used
(18) either before 6 a.m. or after 10p.m. and without the prior written permission of
the authorities concerned.
(19) loudspeakers shall also not be used at public meetings and processions without
the prior written permission of the authorities concerned, Normally. such
meetings/procession's will not be allowed to continue beyond 10.00 p.m. in the
night and will be further subject to the local laws, local perceptions of the security
arrangements of the area and other relevant considerations like weather
conditions" festival season, examination period, etc:

(20) No liquor should be distributed during elections.

(21) On the day of th~ poll, no person who has been assessed to be having a
security threat and theref ore given official .lecurity shall enter the vicinity
of a polling station premise (within 100 meters) with his securl~' personnel. "
Further, .en the day of the poll no. such person shall move around In' a
constituency with his security. personnel. If the person provided with
official security happens to be a v9ter also, then he or ahe shall restrict his
I her movement - accompanied by security personnel, to voting only.
(22) No person who has been assessed to be having a security threat and
therefore provided official security or who has private security guards for .
himself, shall be ap~ointed as an electlon agent or polling agent or
counting agent
NOTE: The above list of Do's' and Don'ts" is only illustrative and nbl
exhaustive and Is not! Intended to substitute any other detailed' orderS.
directions/Instructions on the above sublects, Which must be strlctty observed
and followed. ' '. .. :

The ClarificatiOn/appro.val of the Election Commission of India/Chief Electo~1

Officer of your State should be obtained In cases of doubt . 1:'
Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter.

Yours faithfully,

I' •
(Jal Priye PrakasN
fection Commissioner