ECI assures jewellers: No undue harassment over code of conduct

Surat: Jewellers across the state, including those in Surat, have heaved a sigh of huge relief after the Election Commission of India (ECI) assured the industry of no undue harassment due to the model code of conduct. The ECI decision follows a strong representation made by the All India Gems and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) led by its chairman, Anantha Padmanabhan, regarding the seizure of gold jewellery and harassment by the static teams in the southern states.
The apex poll body has said that very soon the jwellers will be issued guidelines about the documents they will need to carry during transit of gold and jewellery. It also assured the industry of not harassing anybody, not only for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, but also for all other elections in the future.

The election authorities in Coimbatore had seized 149 kilograms of gold in transit and even refused to accept documents submitted by the jewellers with the plea that the metal has been seized owing to model code of conduct. This invited the ire of local jewellers as well as the association.

Talking to TOI, Padmanabhan said, “The jewellers in Coimbatore went on strike to protest the seizure of gold meant for jewellery manufacturing and thus, the GJC had to call on the Election Commissioner in New Delhi to represent the issue. Despite furnishing documents, the gold was not released by the officials there. We therefore demanded the ECI to form a standard operating procedure (SOP) on the seizure of gold during election time.”

Padmanabhan further said that when the documents are correct, there is no question why authorities should seize the gold. “It is a high value item and the lives of jewellers are always at risk. After the ECI’s direction, the state election authorities have been informed us of accepting the documents produced during the time of seizure,” he added.

Padmanabhan also pointed out that movement of goods is an integral part of the jewellery business. Gold being a high value and price sensitive item, its movement, unlike other industrial raw materials, cannot be made through common modes of transport. At times in villages which are in remote locations, services of logistic companies are not available and the delivery has to be done by hand. Interception of personnel carrying jewellery by officials at railway stations, check posts has been a recurring problem.

Nainesh Pachchigar, a GJC member from Gujarat said, “The industry has assured of following ECI guidelines and carrying all documents during transport of jewellery.”