Financial Crisis: Finance Dept rejects Election Commission's request for new car

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Finance Department has rejected the Election Commission's request to buy new cars citing the financial crisis. It also said that the Commission can use an old unused car. The Election Commission stated that they would take a decision on the matter after looking at the condition of the car. At the same time, the Finance Department had sanctioned Rs 51 lakhs to the Speaker and Assembly Secretary to buy new Innova Crysta cars last week.

In reply to the Commission's request, the Finance Department stated that the government has stopped the practice of allocating new cars to all the departments, and the new decision is that it can provide an unused car if the government has such a car somewhere.

In July, the Election Commission had sought permission from the Finance Department to buy a new car. However, the government found that a Maruti Swift Desire car, which had covered a total of 86,000 km, was kept unused at the office of the Kottayam District Judge's office. It was decided to hand over this vehicle to the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, the government has purchased eight Innova Crysta cars so far this year. The Tourism Department is in charge of buying new cars. Once an old car has covered 1.5 lakh kilometres, a department may request to purchase a new one. However, the Election Commission abandoned its old car after using it for 15 years.