The Election Act, 2017 has elaborately defined the following ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ for the caretakers. According to section 230; Functions of caretaker Government.
-(1) A caretaker Government shall-
- Perform its functions to attend to day-to-day matters which are necessary to run the affairs of the Government;
- Assist the Commission to hold elections in accordance with law;
- restrict itself to activities that are of routine, non-controversial and urgent, in the public interest and reversible by the future Government elected after the elections; and
- be impartial to every person and political party.
2) The caretaker Government shall not-
- take major policy decisions except on urgent matters;
- take any decision or make policy that may have effect or pre-empt the exercise of authority by the future elected Government;
- enter into major contract or undertaking if it is detrimental to public interest;
- enter into major international negotiation with any foreign country or international agency or sign or ratify any international binding instrument except in an exceptional case;
- make promotions or major appointments of public officials but may make acting or short term appointments in public interest;
- transfer public officials unless it is considered expedient and after approval of the Commission; and
- attempt to influence the elections or do or cause to be done anything which may, in any manner, influence or adversely affect the free and fair elections.
3) The Prime Minister, Chief Minister or a Minister or any other members of a Caretaker Governments shall, within three days from the date of assumption of office, submit to the Commission a statement of assets and liabilities including assets and liabilities of his spouse and dependent children as on the preceding 30th day of June on Form B and the Commission shall publish the statement of assets and liabilities in the official Gazette.
4) In this section, ‘caretaker Government’ means the caretaker Federal Government or a caretaker Provincial Government.
