Guwahati: The District Election Officer (DEO) of Kamrup Metro has issued a show cause notice to the headmaster of Rupnagar Vidyapeeth M.E. School in Guwahati, for allegedly allowing a political meeting to be held on the school premises in violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines.
According to the notice, a political meeting was reportedly held inside the school campus on March 30, allegedly at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Guwahati Central Legislative Assembly constituency.
The notice stated that permitting such an event on school grounds amounts to a serious breach of the MCC. It specifically referred to the provision under “Other Campaign Related Items”, Rule No. 7(c), which clearly prohibits the use of educational institutions and their premises — whether government, aided or private, for political campaigns and rallies.
It further noted that organising or facilitating such an event on school premises, whether through direct involvement or negligence, constitutes gross misconduct and may attract action under applicable electoral laws and ECI guidelines.
“As the Head of the Institution and a Government servant, you are bound by the applicable Service Conduct Rules, which mandate absolute integrity, devotion to duty, political neutrality, and strict adherence to lawful instructions,” the notice said.
The headmaster has been directed to submit a detailed reply within 24 hours, clarifying whether the meeting took place, the circumstances under which the school premises were used, the identity of those responsible for organising the event, and any other relevant facts he may wish to place on record.
The notice also warned that failure to respond within the stipulated time would be treated as an admission of the allegations, following which further action could be initiated ex parte, without any additional notice or opportunity for explanation.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny over compliance with election norms as Assam prepares for the upcoming Assembly polls.