Par panel voices concern over zero conviction in model code

The Standing Committee of Parliament on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice has expressed concern over zero conviction in cases related to violation of model code of conduct and stressed on the need for strong implementation of law on the issue.
"During 2013 Assembly polls, 2,40,215 complaints of model code violation were received in Madhya Pradesh and out of them FIR was registered in 324 cases," Committee Chairman Dr E M Sudarsana Natchiappan told reporters here last evening.
"Similarly, in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 1,49,940 cases of model code violation were reported, out of which FIR was registered in 216 of them but not a single conviction took place in both the matters till date," he said.

"It appears that at the state level, Election Commission is not getting adequate support. In such a scenario, the poll body would become a paper tiger with no teeth," Natchiappan observed.
Expressing concern, the chairman informed that the committee would be meeting with the Election Commission soon to discuss these issues in detail.
The committee also met members of political parties including BJP, Congress, CPI, NCP, BSP and Madhya Pradesh Joint Chief Electoral Officer and discussed issues related to enforcement of model code of violation.