“The caretaker government cannot take major policy decisions except on urgent matters to run the affairs of the government on a day-to-day basis.”
The ECP’s letter then details some of these unlawful decisions, being taken unfettered in the province.
It has been observed, writes the ECP, that the interim Punjab government was green-lighting “major steps to change land use” in various districts.
“The deputy commissioners are issuing NOCs for housing societies, green areas are being compromised and by doing so agricultural land is being sacrificed,” the letter cautions, “This will lead to mushroom and haphazard growth of residential areas.”
Not only that, the ECP further adds that the element of corruption cannot be ruled out in certain areas.
Election Commission orders to caretaker Chief Minister, Punjab pic.twitter.com/qDU0fYpqhD
— Spokesperson ECP (@SpokespersonECP) August 18, 2023
The ECP then reminds the caretaker Punjab government that such policy decisions were contrary to its mandate and can only be “formulated by an elected government”.
It then instructs the Punjab government to stop the issuance of new NOCs and to issue directions to its deputy commissioners immediately.
