Compliance with Model Code/related instructions issued by Election Commission of India - DoPT

Compliance with Model Code/related instructions issued by Election Commission of India - DoPT

Election Matter

A-43014/2/2018-Ad.IV
Government of India
Election Matter
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

North Block, New Delhi,
The 18th March, 2019

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: General Elections to Lok Sabha, 2019 and State Legislative Assemblies in the State of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim and certain bye-elections - Enforcement of Model Code of Conduct- reg.

The undersigned is directed to enclose a copy each of D.O. letter No. 1/41/2/2019-Cab dated 11 .03.2019 and O.M. No. 1/41/2/2019-Cab dated 12.03.2019 received from Cabinet Secretariat, for information and compliance.

Encl: As above

(Brij mohan)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

To
All concerned through website of DOP&T and e-Office.

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

NIRVACHAN SADAN, ASHOKA ROAD. NEW DELHI-110001

No.437/6/1/ECI/INST/FUNCT/MCC/2019

Dated: 10th March, 2019

TO
1. The Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
2. The Chief Secretaries to the Governments of all States and
Chief Secretaries/ Administrators of Union Territories.
3. The Chief Electoral Officers of all States and Union Territories.

Sub: Application of Model Code of Conduct - General Elections to House of the People (Lok Sabha), 2019 and State Legislative Assemblies in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim and certain bye-elections - reg.

Sir,
I am directed to state that the Election Commission has announced the schedule for holding General Elections to Lok Sabha and to the Legislative Assemblies of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim and certain bye-elections (Press Note No. ECI/PN/23/2019, dated 10th March, 2019, available at the Commission’s web-site - www.eci.gov.in).

2. With this announcement, the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of the Political Parties and Candidates have come into force with immediate effect and will be in force till the completion of the General Elections and bye-elections, mentioned above. This may be brought to the notice of the Central and all State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations, all Ministries/ Departments/ Offices of the Union Government and the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. A copy of instructions issued by you to this effect, may be sent to the Commission for its information and record.

3. Your particular attention is drawn to the provisions of Model Code of Conduct for the guidance of Political Parties and Candidates and various instructions issued by the Commission, which, inter- alia, state that the party in power whether at the Centre or in the State or States concerned, shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign and in particular:-

(i) (a) The Ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work;
(b) Government transport including official air-crafts, vehicles, machinery and personnel shall not be used for furtherance of the interest of the party in power;

(ii) Public places such as maidans etc., for holding election meetings, and use of helipads for air-flights in connection with elections shall not be monopolised by the party in power. Other parties and candidates shall be allowed the use of such places and facilities, on the same terms and conditions, on which they are used by the party in power;

(iii) Rest houses, dak bungalows or other Government accommodations in the States/Union Territories where elections have been announced or are taking place can be given to the political functionaries who are provided security by the State in ‘Z’ scale or above or equivalent by various State Governments or the Central Government under provisions of their laws, on
equitable basis. This shall be subject to condition that such accommodation is not already allotted or occupied by election related officials or the Commission’s Observers. Such political functionaries shall not carry out any political activity while staying in the Government Guest Houses/Rest Houses or other Government accommodation etc.;

(iv) Issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage of political news and publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided;

(v) Ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants/payments out of discretionary funds from the time, elections are announced by the Commission; and

(vi) From the time, elections are announced by Commission, Ministers and other authorities shall not -

(a) announce any financial grants, in any form or promises thereof; or
(b) (except civil servants) lay foundation stones etc. of projects or schemes of any kind; or
(c) make any promise of construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc; or
(d) make any ad-hoc appointments in Government, Public Undertakings etc. which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power.

4. As will be observed from Para 3{Clause IV) above, no advertisement shall be issued in electronic and print media highlighting the achievements of the Govt. at the cost of public exchequer. If any advertisement has already been released for telecast/broadcast or publication in the print media, it must be ensured that the telecast/broadcast of such ads on electronic media is stopped forthwith and that no such ad is published in any newspapers, magazines, etc„ i.e. in print media, from today itself and it should be immediately withdrawn.

5. The instruction of the Commission contained in its letter No.437/6/2009-CCBE dated 5th March, 2009 is available on the Commission’s web-site at path “https://eci.gov.in/important-instructions/” for your information and necessary action. The Commission’s all other relevant instructions, ‘Manual on Model Code of Conduct’ and ‘Compendium of Instructions on Model Code of Conduct’ are also available On the Commission’s website for your guidance.

6. The Commission further directs that there shall be a total ban on the transfer of all officers/officials connected with the conduct of the election. 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 election;

(iv) Officers of the Police Department connected with the management of election, like range IGs and DIGS, Senior Superintendents of Police and Superintendents of Police, Sub-Divisional 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)The transfer orders issued in respect of the above categories of officers prior to the date of announcement but not implemented till date should not be given effect to without obtaining specific permission from the Commission in this regard;

(vi) This ban shall be effective till the completion of the election. The Commission further directs that the State Governments should refrain from making transfers of senior officers who have a role in the management of election in the State;

(vii) In those cases where transfer of an officer is necessary on account of administrative exigencies, the concerned State Government may with full justification approach the Commission for prior clearance.

The receipt of the letter may kindly be acknowledged.

Yours faithfully,

(NARENDRA N.BUTOLIA)
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

Source: DoPT

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DoPT Order: Recording of the Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) for the 2017 - 18 financial year for CSS officers

DoPT Order: Recording of the Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) for the 2017 - 18 financial year for CSS officers

No.22/10/2018-CS-I (APAR)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training

2nd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi-110003,
dated the 19th March, 2019

S.No.	ACTIVITY	EXTENDED TIMELINES FOR THE YEAR 2017- 18
1.	Submission of self-appraisal by Officer to be Reported Upon (ORU) to Reporting Officer	31st July, 2018
2.	Forwarding of Report by the Reporting Officer to Reviewing Officer	16th August, 2018
3.	Forwarding of Report by the Reviewing Authority to the Administrator / APAR Cell	31st August, 2018

The progress of writing of APARs of CSS officers was monitored closely and it was observed that a large number of ORUs, Reporting & Reviewing Officers, had not recorded their remarks in the APARs even after the expiry of extended date-lines. All the Ministries/Departments were, therefore, requested vide O.M. dated 29.11.2018 to send ‘alert’ to all the officers for completing action on their part at the earliest and force forward APARs of ORUs, who failed to submit their self- appraisal by 14.12.2018, to next level i.e. Reporting Officer. The ‘SPARROW’ window has been closed on 31.12.2018.

The details of activities completed for writing of APARs on SPARROW for the year 2017-18 are as under:

S.NO.	STAGE AT WHICH THE APAR WAS CLOSED	NO. OF PARS (2017 -18 -AS ON 01.01.2019)
1.	Officer to be Reported Upon (ORU)	51
2.	Reporting Authority	180
3.	Reviewing Authority	200
4.	NRCs	461
5.	Pending for Disclosure	286
6.	Representations	7
7.	Closed by the system after all activities	2010
8.	Total	3195

Attention is invited to the O.M. dated 29.11.2018 followed by Secretary (P)’s D.O. dated 11.12.2018, in terms of which the APARs for 2017-18 pending at ORU level were required to be force forward to next level i.e. Reporting Officer. However, 51 APARs for 2017-18 were closed at ORU level. The concerned Ministries/Departments are requested to elaborate reasons for not force-forwarding these APARs to the next level i.e. Reporting Officer. A list of 51 ORUs whose APARs were not force forwarded is enclosed at Annexure.

Secondly, inspite of clear cut instructions from this Department vide O.M. No.21011/02/2009-Estt(A) dated 16.02.2009, a large number of APARs have been closed at the level of Reporting Officers and Reviewing Authorities. Further, around 286 APARs are pending for Disclosure. It is brought to the notice of all the Ministries/ Departments that the APAR for 2017-18 are now available for viewing to the officer concerned by visiting sparrow-css.eoffice.gov.in-> Dossier-Ny Completed PAR. The officers may be advised to view their APARs for 2017-18 through above link and send representation, if any, to their Ministry/Department, within 15 days from the issue of this O.M. Their representations may be examined as per the extant instructions and outcome of such representations may be intimated to the officer concerned under intimation to this Department.

All the Ministries/ Departments are, therefore, requested to take necessary action as per extant instructions and send a completion report alongwith a printout of APARs for 2017-18 closed on SPARROW web portal for records in this Division.

Encl: As above.

(Rajul Bhatt)
Director
Tel: 011-24629411

Source: DoPT

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Guidelines of Central Government Holiday Homes for postal employees

Guidelines of Central Government Holiday Homes for postal employees

Delegation of Powers, Eligibility for booking, priority in booking, rent for holiday homes, List of items for Suites, Crockery and Utensils

Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
(Welfare & Sports Section)

Dak Bhawdn, Sansad M&rE,
New Delhi-110001
Dated: 12.03 .2019

No. 1 – 1/2077 -WL/Sports
To
All Heads of Postal Circle

Subject: Guidelines of Holiday Home.

Madam / Sir,
The undersigned is directed to forward herewith the guidelines of Holiday Home for information, guidance and compliance.

The Scheme is approved by Member (Planning & HRD).

sd/-
(Daisy Barla)
Director(W&S)

Guidelines for Holiday Homes

Objective :
To establish clear guidelines for short stay use of holiday homes by employees of Department of Posts and other verified persons primarily for tourism.

II. Definitions :
i. Applicant Departmental Employees Serving.
ii. Family means spouse/dependent family member of Government servant.
iii. Guest means persons other than mentioned at sub para (ii) above.
iv. Booking means granting permission to applicants/visitors vide Confirmation Slip by Circle for occupying rooms/suites of holiday homes for specified period subject to authentication of personal details appearing in Confirmation Slip by administrative office of the applicants.

III. Broad Criteria :
Holiday homes have been established throughout the country for the benefit of the Postal Employees. The broad Principle, within the framework of which Department of Posts may establish Holiday Homes are as below:

• Holiday Homes may be set up in suitable hill stations or sea-side resorts or other pleasant surroundings or where popular demand exists.
• Priority would be given to States where there is no Holiday Home.
• Buildings for Holiday Home may be hired from any available source i,e. Defence, Civil, Municipal or private at suitable sites or made available from any surplus Postal buildings / space. Necessary alterations may be effected to set up the Holiday Home.
• The Rent where applicable for hiring buildings for Holiday homes should be approved by the Fair Rent Assessment Committee of the Circles and all the formalities and rules will be observed as in the case of hiring accommodation for offices.
• The head of Circles could also consider construction of Holiday Departmental land and send proposals to the Postal directorate for the cost of construction from welfare fund.
• The Holiday home should have normally minimum of four suites, minimum of four families at a time.
• Each suite should have furniture, utensils, crockery, etc. at the scale indicated in the annexure and the total cost of the same should not exceed Rs.50,000/- as a one time expenditure.
• The Holiday Home may have a common room with various facilities, including essential equipment such as utensils, furniture, recreation facilities for Indoor games etc. The total cost of furniture etc. for the common room should not exceed Rs.70,000/- as a one time expenditure.
• Expenditure on petty replacements, electricity and water should not normally exceed Rs.5000/- per month for a Holiday Home with four suites.
• Expenditure on holiday home would have to be made from Welfare Funds available with the Circle. In case additional funds are required by the Circles on expenditure on holiday homes, the same should be taken up with the Directorate accordingly.
• Current/recurring expenditure on renovation/maintenance/repairing would have to be made from welfare funds available with the circle. In case additional funds are required, the same should be taken up with the Directorate accordingly.

IV. Delegation of powers to Heads of circles for opening of Holiday Homes on the following terms and conditions:

• These delegated powers shall be exercised with the approval of the Head of the Circle for the Circle as a whole. These powers will not be delegated further to any other authority including the Postmaster General and Head of Region.
• The location for opening the Holiday Homes may be identified according to the all India importance of the place vis-a-vis tourists’ interest, importance, and requirements of the Staff of the Department as a whole and likely occupancy of the facility.
• As soon as the locations and building/space is identified for opening the Holiday Homes a detailed proposal may be sent to the Directorate (Welfare and Sports Section) indicating the factors as mentioned in (ii) above. As holiday home becomes operational information regarding its location, full address along with telephone number, controlling officer, weather conditions, approach, surrounding etc. be given to the Directorate for circulation to all circles and uploaded on the Departments website.
• The actual accommodation should be easily approachable and in a prominent place of the city. The security needs of the place as well as of visiting staff may be kept in view.
• Generally not more than one holiday home should be opened in one city/town. However, where considered necessary more suites could be added to an existing holiday home.
• Where it is necessary to hire the accommodation for Holiday Home, the Head of Circles may exercise the financial powers as have been delegated vide Circular No. 2-l12001-Wel/sports dated26.04.2002 subject to the same terms and conditions as laid down in the OM No. 6-14/87-Fincoord (Vol. V) dated 26.03.2001 for Item 7(b) (vi) for hiring accommodation for office-cum-residence. The rent should be invariably approved by the ‘Fair Rent Assessment Committee’ of the Circle and all the formalities and rules that are required to be observed as in the case of hiring accommodation for office-cum-residence should be complied with.
• Current/recurring the expenditure in connection with establishment of Holiday homes may be met from Circle Welfare Fund. There will however, be no special allotment of fund to the Circle on this account from Postal Services Staff Welfare Fund.
• These powers are delegated to the extent of existing infrastructure and no new building would be constructed unless the funds are specially allotted for the purpose for Directorate.
• No operational / Post Office building would be converted into a Holiday home without personal approval of the Head of Circle who will ensure that the accommodation in question is not likely to be required for operational needs in the next 3 years.
• The Holiday home should be provided with a caretaker, for which no additional posts would be created and no additional staff would be given. This may be done by diversion of an existing post, where possible or by outsourcing as per rules on the subject.
• All other conditions such as period and rules of occupancy, rent charged, facilities to be provided etc will continue to be the same as at present and as amended from time to time.
• The concurrence of the Internal Financial advisor and Circle welfare Board should also be obtained before opening a Holiday Home.

V. Eligibility for Booking :
All applicants mentioned at Para II will be eligible for holiday homes for themselves and their spouse/dependent family members and guests.

VI. Priority in Booking :
Booking will be made through automated online system (if online facility is available) primarily on ‘first-come first-serve’ basis subject to fulfillment of prescribed eligibility, time limit and payment of booking charges, etc.

VII. Rent for Holiday Home :
Rent to be charged from occupants of the Holiday Homes (for one suite) would be as indicated below :-

(i) Basic pay upto Rs. 35.400 /- (7th Pay Commission) Rs. 40/- per Day.
(ii) Basic pay exceeding Rs. 35,400 /- (7th Pay Commission) Rs. 100/- per Day.

List of items for four suites of Holiday Home

1. Bed(s)
2. Mattress(es)
3. Mattress cover
4. Cotton Mattress
5. Bed Sheets
6. Pillows
7. Pillow covers
8. Bed covers
9. Coat hangers
10. Blankets
11. Doormets
12. Gentre table
13. bedside chairs
14. Floor covering
15. Chest of drawers and/or cupboard
16. Heater
17. Bedside tables and soft reading lights
18. Towels. 1 bath towel one hand towels per guest
19. Dressing Table
20. Curtains
21. Toiletries
22. Wall clock
23. Dustbin

Apart from the above items, Circles may include other items as per requirement with the permission of Heads of Circle.

Crockery & Utensils

1. Cooker
2. Gas stove
3. Tea set
4. Set of Crockery
5. Cutlery
6. Plastic buckets
7. Plastic Mugs
8. Plastic Jugs
9. Kitchen Towels
10. Stainless steel tea spoons
11. Belan and Chakla
12. Karchis steel
13. Patila Steel
14. Masaladani
15. Parat Steel
16. Karahi
17. Frying Pan and cookware
18. Tawa
19. Steel Plates for rice
20. Chopping Board
21. Serving Spoons
22. Soup Bowls
23. Steel Bowls
24. Kettle
25. Knife set
26. Glass
27. Liquid soap

View the Order

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Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent

DoE: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent

No.N-20011/29/2016-E.II(pt.IV)
Government Of India
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
(Establishment Section-II)

Transport Bhawan, 1, parliament Street, New Delhi-110001
New Delhi, Dated February, 2019

CIRCULAR

Sub:- Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours-purchase of air ticket from authorized agent - reg.
The undersigned is directed to refer to Department Of Expenditure, ( Ministry of Finance) O.M No. 19024/22/2017.E.IV dated 19.07.2017 and 27.02.2018 (Copy Enclosed) on the subject mentioned above and to request all officers for strict compliance of extant air travel guidelines, as henceforth, relaxation on account Of ignorance,’ unawareness about these guidelines would not be considered in future.
Accordingly, all CES (Roads) officers are hereby requested for strict compliance of the same.

sd/-
(Kamal Kishore)
Under Secretary to the Government of India

Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent

No.19024/22/2017-EIV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 27th February, 2018

Office Memorandum

Subject: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours - Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Departments’ O.M No, 19024/22/2017-E.IV dated 19.07.2017 regarding guidelines on Air travel where the Govt. of India bears the cost of passage. As per this O.M., Ministries/Departments were asked to ensure that these instructions are given adequate coverage and were to be circulated to all so that ‘lack of knowledge’ of the rules is not cited as an excuse. In spite of these instructions, a large number of cases for relaxation of air travel guidelines due to purchase of air ticket from unauthorized travel agents, are still being received in this Department.

The matter has been re-considered and it has been decided that all such cases of air travel where tickets have been purchased after issue of this Department’s O.M. dated 19.07.2017, seeking relaxation of air travel guidelines pertaining to purchase of air ticket from authorized agent, should have the approval of Secretary of the Administrative Ministry before referring the same to Department of Expenditure.

This is issued with the approval of Secretary Expenditure.

sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

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Gazette Notification: Minimum educational qualification for Motor vehicle inspector and Assistant Motor vehicle inspector

Gazette Notification: Minimum educational qualification for Motor vehicle inspector and Assistant Motor vehicle inspector

Notification no. S.O. 1215(E) dated 8th March 2019 regarding minimum educational qualification for Motor vehicle inspector and Assistant Motor vehicle inspector

MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 8th March, 2019

S.O. 1215(E). -In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (4) of section 213 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988), the Central Government hereby makes the following amendments in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways published in the official Gazette vide number S.O. 443(E), dated the 12th June, 1989, namely:-

In the said notification, under the heading 'Qualification', for serial numbers 1 to 4 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial numbers and entries shall respectively, be substituted, namely:-

"(i) 10th standard pass from any recognised Board; and
(ii) a diploma in Automobile Engineering (three year course);
or
a diploma in Mechanical Engineering (three year course), awarded by any institution recognised by the Central Government or State Government; and
(iii) holding a driving license authorising to drive motor cycle with gear and light motor vehicles.".

[F. No. RT-11036/62/2018-MVL]

PRIYANK BHARTI, Jt. Secy.

Note : The principal notification was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II Section 3, Sub-Section (ii) vide S.O. 443(E), dated the 12th June, 1989.

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