New Delhi, November 7
The model code of conduct for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is not applicable to the relief and rehabilitation work being carried out by the state and the Centre for the flood-hit people, the Election Commission stated in the Supreme Court today.

Commission’s counsel Amit Sharma told a Bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu that the EC had written to this effect to the Union Cabinet Secretary, the state’s Chief Secretary and the J-K’s Chief Electoral Officer on November 5. The EC’s assurance came in response to a notice issued by the apex court on October 30 while hearing a batch of PILs for expediting relief and rehabilitation work in J-K.

The panel said it had clarified in the letter that the authorities were not required to take its prior permission under the model code for implementing any of the relief measures that had already been announced under various schemes, either by the state or the Centre. In fact, such matters need not even be brought to the EC’s notice, Sharma said.