The Election Commission has asked all recognised national and state parties to submit an annual report declaring that there are no dues pending in the form of rent for occupying government premises, telephone, electricity and water bills.
As per the latest directive, the report for a particular financial year should be filed latest by June 30 of the following year.
“The Commission has directed that all recognised national and state political parties which are in occupation of accommodation provided by the government for running their party office or for any other purpose, shall submit a report to the commission on an annual basis,” said a letter written by the EC recently.
It further said that parties will have to submit that there are not in arrears of any dues to the government on account of rent to the competent authority for the accommodation occupied by them and for services such as telephone, electricity, water and drainage charges at such accommodation.
Earlier, Delhi High court in a July, 2015 order had said that the EC should consider the possibility of requiring political parties fielding candidates in any election to furnish an affidavit that they are not in arrears of any electricity, water, telephone or other public dues, as a pre-condition to their fielding candidates in any election.
The poll panel had recently made it mandatory for candidates contesting polls to furnish a ‘no dues certificate’ from the agency providing electricity, water and telephone connections to their accommodation.
There are seven recognised national and 48 recognised state parties. Most of the parties in Delhi at least function out of government accommodations for which they pay rent.