Page 228 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

Expenditure Limit for Candidates Enhanced Protec ng Electoral Officers in the line of duty

In October 2020, Elec on Commission of India had Several instances have come to the no ce of Elec on
cons tuted a four member commi ee to re-examine and Commission of India wherein Chief Electoral Officers
streamline the maximum expenditure limit for candidates (CEOs) and other officials working directly in the office of
in elec ons. Earlier, the Ministry of Law and Jus ce had CEO were vic mised by respec ve state governments
no fied an ad hoc enhancement of ten percent in view of a er the comple on of elec ons. Considering it as a
the pandemic. The last major revision of expenditure limits moral and legal obliga on to protect those officers, who
had taken place in 2014. The Commi ee, a er consul ng in the line of duty might have incurred the displeasure of
various stakeholders, and studying the Cost Infla on Index, the State government, the Elec on Commission wrote to
submi ed its recommenda ons. On January 6, 2022 the all Union and State governments on January 15, 2021
Ministry enhanced the maximum expenditure limits for the making it compulsory to obtain prior wri en approval
candidates. The upper limits now stand at INR 95 lakh and from it before ini a ng any disciplinary proceedings
INR 75 lakh for Parliamentary Cons tuencies, and INR 40 against the CEO and other top officers during their tenure
lakh and INR 28 lakh for Assembly Cons tuencies and also up to one year from the last elec on conducted
depending upon the size of the State/UT. by them. The states were also directed not to arbitrarily
withdraw vehicles, security and other facili es extended
to them under rules.

Honorarium for elec on duty in remote and difficult
areas doubled
Elec on Commission of India recently decided to double
the honorarium of polling officials who have to proceed
for elec on duty three days in advance to reach polling
sta ons located in remote and difficult areas. Previously
their honorarium rate was at par with others. The decision
came in the a ermath of Chief Elec on Commissioner of
India Rajiv Kumar's visit to Dumak and Kalgoth villages in
Chamoli district of U arakhand. He trekked 18 kilometres
in three days to reach those polling sta ons, part of
Badrinath Assembly Cons tuency, which went to the polls
in April, 2022. While recognising the courage and
determina on of polling officials, he stressed on the
Leading the way, CEC Rajiv Kumar trekked for 18 kms through inaccessible necessity of having updated route maps indica ng the
terrain to visit polling station in Dumak village in Chamoli, Uttarakhand safest and shortest course.

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