Officials in a fix as code takes toll on routine too

An official attached to Commercial Taxes department, on request of anonymity, said, “The state has several issues pending in GST and funds need to be obtained from the Centre. But, due to MCC, the funds could not be obtained for the past two months. We could not even conduct regular review meeting with Ministers.”

The Model Code came into force on March 10, when the Election Commission (EC) announced the election date and it will remain till May 23, the day of counting of votes. Until then, government cannot announce new schemes and cannot undertake routine activities such as review meetings, grievance meetings and even regular meetings of Chief Minister.

Apart from officials, Ministers also agreed that routine activities are affected. Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, said, “Government is committed to the welfare of the people and it has implemented several welfare schemes in the last three years, but due to MCC we could not announce any new schemes. 

However, after that we will start our routine and the pending issues will be sorted out soon.” In the meantime, the officials are using the model code as an excuse not to attend regular problems.

Recently, when there was an issue of drainage water mixing with drinking water in certain areas of North Chennai the officials did not act citing MCC.

However, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sathyabrata Sahoo, clarified that there is no problem in officials doing their regular work. “When MCC is in place only Ministers cannot convene meeting. There is no problem in officials conducting meetings and doing their routine works,” he said.

The recent delay in distribution of cash awards for medal winners in Asian Athletics Championships was due to the Model Code of Conduct, Sports Department Secretary, Dheeraj Kumar, said, “As MCC was in place there was delay and he was in regular touch with the CEO to obtain approval for distribution of cash awards for medal winners.” 

After the EC nod, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced cash awards for medal winners of Asian Athletics Championship. 

He announced a cash price of Rs 10 lakh for Gomathi Marimuthu, who took gold medal in 800 meters and Rs 5 lakh for Arokiya Rajeev for bagging silver medal in the 4*400 meters mixed relay.