Election Commission restricts Haryana from recruiting 5,600 constables

New Delhi, August 21

The Election Commission has directed the Haryana Government not to declare the results of recruitment for 5,600 posts of police constable till the completion of Assembly elections in the state to ensure a level playing field for all parties.

The issue was raised by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh with the poll body, following which the EC issued the order on Wednesday. The elections in Haryana are to be held on October 1 and the results will be declared on October 4.

Ramesh, in a representation to the EC, had alleged that on the day the schedule for the Assembly elections was announced (August 16), the state government advertised the recruitment in violation of the model code of conduct.

The EC said the matter had been examined in light of its existing instructions relating to the election code and the reports received from the state government. It was found that the process was initiated before the imposition of the code. However, to maintain a level playing field and prevent undue advantage to any party, the state government had been told to withhold the declaration of the results, it said.

“It is amply clear the selection process was initiated and necessary communications were sent by the state government to statutory authorities concerned much before the announcement of the elections. The statutory authorities started the process before the enforcement of the code... Therefore, there is no violation of the commission’s instructions on the poll code… However, to maintain a level playing field… the commission has directed the Haryana Government not to declare the results till the completion of the elections,” the EC said in the order.

On August 18, Ramesh, in his representation to the EC, had alleged that on the date of the announcement of Haryana elections, the state government first announced and subsequently issued the advertisement for recruitment against 5,600 vacancies for the post of constable in the Haryana Police.

Started before poll announcement

• The EC, in an order issued on Wednesday, said the matter had been examined
• It said the process was initiated before the imposition of the code for Assembly poll
• Cong MP Jairam Ramesh had approached the EC against the recruitments
• Ramesh had maintained the posts were advertised the day poll schedule came