Jharkhand announced 6% D.A. but Election Commission sought explanation.

Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi today said that Raj Bhavan had not taken “prior permission” before announcing key policy decisions such as the 6 per cent DA hike for state staff, indicating the election commission had its radar fixed on Jharkhand which has been under President’s rule since January 19.

Quraishi said an explanation had already been sought from Raj Bhavan on policy decisions taken after the model code of conduct came into force. Adding that Governor Syed Sibtey Razi was yet to reply, the election commissioner clarified that the governor’s role, as the chief executive officer of the state during President’s rule, did come under the purview of the poll panel.

Razi’s advisory council okayed the DA hike on March 24. But when the BJP alleged it was a violation of the poll code, a Raj Bhavan spokesman argued that a DA revision for the state was due since January when it was cleared for Union government staff.

Source : The Telegraph.