EC for cooling off period for ex-babus before joining a party

The EC has,however,been arguing that it is proposing a cooling off for retired bureaucrats only from joining a political party and not from contesting elections. The EC has also said there have been instances of government servants working in the interest of a certain political party while in service and then joining the same party immediately after retirement. That such officials would work neutrally through the election process may be doubtful,the EC has said while arguing for the mandatory cooling off period.

The EC has reportedly again communicated to the Law Ministry on the subject. It had in its previous letters suggested amendments to service rules for civil servants to bring in the cooling off clause. Currently,government servants cannot take up a private sector job for a year after retirement.