Election Commission Halts Haryana Recruitment Results

• 22 Aug 2024

Why in News?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has halted the announcement of results for ongoing recruitment processes in Haryana until the completion of the Assembly elections.

Key Points

• Recruitment Details: The affected recruitments include vacancies for Constables in the Haryana Police, posts of Trained Graduate Teachers (TGT) and Physical Training Instructors (PTI) by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC), and various posts by the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC).
• Reason for Halt: This decision was made following a complaint from the opposition party alleging violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
• Commission’s Findings: The ECI determined that there was no violation of the MCC in the recruitment processes, as they were initiated before the election dates were declared.
  • However, to maintain fairness and a level playing field, the results will not be released until the election process is concluded.

Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC):

• The Haryana Staff Selection Commission is a government body responsible for recruiting staff for Group B, C, and D positions across various departments and subordinate offices within the Government of Haryana.

Election Commission of India

• About:
  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.
    • It was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25^th January 1950 (celebrated as National Voters' Day). The secretariat of the commission is in New Delhi.
  • The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
    • It is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and municipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission.
• Constitutional Provisions:
  • Part XV (Article 324-329): It deals with elections and establishes a commission for these matters.

Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

• The MCC is a consensus document. The political parties have themselves agreed to keep their conduct during elections in check and to work within the Code.
• It helps the EC in keeping with the mandate it has been given under Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives it the power to supervise and conduct free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.
• The MCC is operational from the date on which the election schedule is announced until the date of the result announcement.
• The government cannot announce any financial grants, promise construction of roads or other facilities, and make any ad hoc appointments in government or public undertaking during the time the Code is in force.