BPP election code

Following an hour-long meeting on February 25, 2014 with six former Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees and others the BPP trustees have agreed in principle to accept an electoral code of conduct. Another meeting is scheduled for March 14 where an understanding to move the court jointly may be taken. Seven former trustees of the BPP plus several prominent community members had drafted an appeal to the BPP urging them to adopt rules for conducting trusteeship elections.
In a letter dated February 21, 2014 addressed to "Dear fellow Zoroastrians,” the seven former trustees and others state, "It is a matter of great concern and sorrow for our wonderful and highly respected community to witness the manner in which our apex body the BPP is functioning and the manner in which the present seven trustees are behaving.

"Never before in its glorious 300+ year history have trustees openly filed a criminal case against the chairman, and dragged the matter to the police and Charity Commissioner. At present there is a deadlock and BPP is not functioning as it should.
"We, the recent former trustees (Jamsheed Kanga, Minoo Shroff, Dadi Engineer, Dinshaw Tamboly, Burjor Antia, Maneck Engineer and Noshir Dadrawala) and others have endeavored that the present trustees would see their way to adopting a code of conduct… We feel that this decline in standards of behavior is because there is no code of behavior and conduct particularly during elections to the posts of trustees which are now conducted under universal adult franchise.
"The use of money power has been abused and it is shocking that some contestants have spent lakhs of rupees in wining and dining voters.
"Elections are due in the latter half of 2015, and it will be necessary to move the court soon if the proposed code of conduct is to be incorporated into the BPP scheme of elections…
"It is hoped that members of our community will support the initiative taken by former trustees and others.
"Failure to act now will doom the BPP and harm the community.”
The other signatories include lawyer Edul Bharucha, former Glaxo Burroughs Welcome managing director Homi Khusrokhan, Tata Sons director Farrokh Kavarana and chartered accountant Fali Sarkari. Several prominent individuals have endorsed the effort, including Sam and Dilnavaz Variava, Jamshyd Godrej, Keiki Dadiseth, Darius Khambata, Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, Fali Nariman, Jamshed Irani, Farhad Forbes, Anu Aga, Keki Daruwalla, Dadi Mistry, Adi Engineer, Dadi Dalal, Cmde Medioma Bhada (Retd), Fareeda Setna, Byram Jeejeebhoy, Zarir Bhathena and Phiroze Amroliwalla.
In a letter dated January 23, 2014 to the BPP trustees asking for a meeting on formulating a code of conduct, the group had stated: "We are given to understand that... attacks have been made by candidates opposing one another through leaflets, pamphlets and the media, print as well as electronic, displaying complete lack of maturity, grace or goodwill that has brought into disrepute the standing of the community in general and BPP in particular...
"The elections may have been democratic on paper, but the spirit of democracy (live and let live) has been conspicuous by its absence. Grand dinners and entertainment extravaganzas were regularly arranged by many candidates to lure voters and seek their support. This would hardly qualify as a democratic exercise.
"It was noticed that some candidates spent huge amounts running into well over six and in some instances perhaps even seven digits whilst campaigning.
"If candidates spend such amounts to get elected to an ‘office of service’ it can only mean that in the times to come an ordinary member of the community having vision and intelligence but being bereft of funds will never have any hope to be elected a BPP trustee and contribute his mite towards the welfare and uplift of the community.
"Being very concerned about the negative manner in which elections have been conducted so far under Universal Adult Franchise we have, keeping in mind the interest of the community and the BPP, evolved a model code of conduct, a copy of which is appended to this letter.”
The 31 recommendations made include:
The appointment of "an election commissioner/ombudsman, who shall be a person of unimpeachable character, repute and standing, preferably a retired judge of the High Court or Supreme Court of India to deal with all complaints relating to the election and/or breach of any of the conditions of this code;”
A limit of Rs 2,00,000 (US$ 3,174) per candidate for his or her "entire election campaign either directly or individually through his (her) friends and/or well-wishers and/or group, etc;”
Each candidate must "disclose his assets by filing an affidavit and lodging the same with the president of the election at the time of filing his nomination for elections;”
"No allegations of personal nature should be made;”
"No sitting trustee or any other person shall enter any polling station or the place of counting, unless he or she is a candidate or as a voter only for voting;”
"No inducement, financial or otherwise, shall be offered to the voter. None of the contesting candidates shall offer dinners or food or refreshments at their campaign meetings or at the time of the voting or invite the voters or any part or group of the voters to parties organized by them either personally or through any other persons or entities after filing their nominations.”
"None of the fire temples of the community or the Towers of Silence or any other place of worship shall be used as places for election propaganda, including speeches, posters, music, etc”