5.4. Enforcement of MCC

MCC has got the judicial recognition of the highest court of land. The dispute over the date when the Model Code of Conduct should come into force, the issuance of the press release by EC announcing the poll dates or the date of actual notification in this regard was resolved in the Union of India V/s Harbans Sigh Jalal.

The apex court gave the ruling that the Code of Conduct would come into force the moment the Commission issues the press release, which precedes the notification by a good two weeks. This ruling lay at rest the controversy related to the dates of enforcement of MCC. Thus the MCC remains in force from the date of announcement of elections till the completion of elections.