TIB terms Section 91E of RPO indispensable
Sunday, 23 November 2008
The Section 91E of the Representation of People Ordinance 2008 giving the Election Commission power to cancel candidacy is “indispensable” and cannot be removed, as demanded by BNP, said Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), reports UNB.
In a statement issued Saturday, TIB said: “If it is annulled, there will not remain any institutional process to effectively apply the electoral code of conduct to candidates.”
“This clause is very important to ensure application of other clauses ranging from election expenditures to other sections of the RPO.”
The present caretaker government incorporated the Section 91E by amending the Representation of People Order 1972. Under this clause, the EC can cancel the candidature of anyone who, on investigation, is found violating the electoral code of conduct.
“In the past, no nomination papers of any candidate had been cancelled for violation of the code of conduct and no candidate has faced penalty for failing to furnish accounts of election expenditure,” the TIB statement pointed out.
In a statement issued Saturday, TIB said: “If it is annulled, there will not remain any institutional process to effectively apply the electoral code of conduct to candidates.”
“This clause is very important to ensure application of other clauses ranging from election expenditures to other sections of the RPO.”
The present caretaker government incorporated the Section 91E by amending the Representation of People Order 1972. Under this clause, the EC can cancel the candidature of anyone who, on investigation, is found violating the electoral code of conduct.
“In the past, no nomination papers of any candidate had been cancelled for violation of the code of conduct and no candidate has faced penalty for failing to furnish accounts of election expenditure,” the TIB statement pointed out.