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Milestones - A Constant Endeavour Chapter 8

Re-examining and streamlining expenditure limits some other officials working directly in the office of
(2020): CEO were vic mised by respec ve governments a er
Within two days of the Ministry of Law & Jus ce no fying the elec ons.
an enhancement in the expenditure limit of candidates in
These officers had discharged their duty in impar al
elec on by ten percent through an amendment in
manner to ensure free, fair, vibrant and ethical elec ons.
Conduct of Elec ons Rules, 1961 in view of COVID-19, the Thus on January 15, 2021 the Elec on Commission wrote
Elec on Commission on October 21, 2020 set up a
to Union/ State governments to a) invariably obtain prior
commi ee to re-examine and streamline the expenditure approval of the Commission, if any disciplinary ac on is
limit issue. The expenditure limit for candidates was last
ini ated against CEOs and other top level officer , during s
revised in 2014, except for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
their tenure and also up to one year from the end of the
where it was revised in 2018.
last elec on conducted by them and b) to con nue with
Protec ng Electoral Officers in the line of duty (2021): vehicle, security and other facili es provided to the office
Several instances had come to the no ce of the Elec on of the CEO for proper discharge of his/her du es.
Commission wherein Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and

Cash seized by police officials as part of MCC violations

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