This marks the second suo motu report on the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the 2024 general elections, following the first report released on April 16, 2024…reports Asian Lite News
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has disposed of 90 per cent of 425 complaints it received in the last two months and no major complaints were pending from parties except Congress and BJP.
In a recent press release, the ECI expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the campaign during this period. They noted that the campaign space has been “violence-free, less noisy, less cluttered and intrusive, and free of inducement and ostentatiousness.”
This marks the second suo motu report on the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the 2024 general elections, following the first report released on April 16, 2024.
In its report, the ECI said, “Approximately 425 major complaints, excluding canvassing related or clarificatory complaints, have been filed by various political parties and candidates at the level of ECI and CEOs. Of these, action has been taken (or matter disposed) in 400 cases.”
“Approximately 170, 95, and 160 complaints were filed by Congress, BJP and others, respectively. Most of these complaints have been acted upon,” the ECI added.
The Election Commission also reiterates that it expects “Star campaigners, particularly national parties, to lead by example in the next phases and not vitiate the delicate fabric of society.”
The Commission in its press release informed that a total of 4,22,432 complaints have been filed on C-Vigil App as of May 14, 2024. Of these, action has been taken in 4,22,079 (99.9%) cases, and of these, 88.7% of complaints were resolved in an average time of less than 100 minutes.
Regarding the cVIGIL App, the ECI praised its effectiveness and said, “Because of the robustness of the cVIGIL App, there is a substantial reduction in illegal hoardings, defacement of property, campaigning beyond permissible time, deployment of vehicles beyond permitted ones.
The cVIGIL is a mobile application developed by the ECI to enable citizens to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
The Commission reiterated that it chose to put this information in public so that the most important stakeholders, the voters and the political parties get real-time information on measures taken to maintain a level playing field.
The Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) Rajiv Kumar during the last two months, has taken actions with far-reaching and systemic implications in cleaning up the campaign space in the long term, as against only in an episodic prescriptive manner. (ANI)
SC rejects plea seeking Modi’s disqualification for alleged hate speech
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to disqualify Prime Minister Narendra Modi for six years from elections for allegedly making hate speeches and invoking religion during campaigns.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Satish Chandra Sharma allowed the petitioner to withdraw the plea as it was not inclined to entertain the plea.
“You must approach authority. If you want to withdraw, we will permit you,” told the bench to the petitioner’s (Fatima) counsel to which he agreed to withdraw the petition.
It sought direction that the Prime Minister be restrained from seeking votes in the name of religious deities and places of worship.
The petitioner alleged that the speech made by the Prime Minister at Banswara on April 21 during campaigning was inflammatory and against communal harmony. It referred to other speeches made by Modi during campaigning.
The apex court also dismissed another petition that sought directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to act against Prime Minister Modi and Union Minister Anurag Thakur for alleged hate speeches during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
The petition stated that the poll panel had completely “failed in its duty to conduct free and fair elections” as per the mandate of the Constitution by permitting repeated violations of not just the Model Code of Conduct, but other laws as well. (ANI)
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