The Election Commission has called upon professors, teachers and employees not to engage in campaigning in favor of political parties and candidates in the upcoming House of Representatives elections. The commission issued a statement today stating that the call was made after the commission received complaints and grievances that some professors, teachers and employees were involved in campaigning in favor of parties and candidates.

The commission has implemented the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, to maintain the freedom, fairness, impartiality, transparency, economy and fear-free environment of elections. It is the responsibility of the stakeholders to fully comply with the code of conduct and the commission is monitoring whether all political parties, candidates and concerned parties have fully complied with the election code of conduct, said spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai.

Section 16 E. of the Education Act, 2028, Clause (g) of Sub-section (5) provides that ‘if a teacher or employee is found to be a member of the executive committee of a political party’, a teacher or employee will be removed from his or her post. He said that there is a clear provision in Section 10 (a) of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082 that employees, professors and teachers of schools, colleges or universities and related institutions ‘shall not engage in or promote campaigning for or against any political party or candidate’ and as per Section (c) of the same section, ‘shall not allow the use of vehicles, buildings or other materials, hold programs or meetings or conferences or promote campaigning for or against any political party or candidate’.