EC Directs To Issue ‘No Due Certificate’ Within 48 Hours Of Request

The Election Commission on Friday directed all the state chief secretaries to ensure that a “No Dues Certificate” is issued to all poll candidates within 48 hours of receiving the request letter. 

This new development came after it came to the poll body’s notice that an intending candidate was unable to file a nomination as he was unable to obtain the certificate from the authorities. 

As per the directive issued by the Election Commission, “issue No Dues Certificate by all concerned agencies /authorities /departments to such persons within 48 hours of the receipt of the request letter in case where dues are not pending or are not due by law”.

In the letter, EC also stressed the importance of candidate filing their nomination papers along with an affidavit in Form 26, as required by Section 33A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. 

As per the ruling prescribed by the Election Commission, the no dues certificate has to be submitted before the returning officer along with the affidavit by 3 pm on the last date of filing nominations in the constituency. There will be no respite if the candidate submits the certificate after this period expires and his candidature will be blocked. 

An institutionalized mechanism will be put in place to handle such requests from prospective candidates, ensuring timely issuance of a “No Dues Certificate” as per the specified timelines. The ECI urged immediate compliance with these instructions by the concerned departments, authorities, and agencies to facilitate a smooth electoral process.

The EC further added that the affidavit was to be completed without leaving any column blank.