Date:28/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/28/stories/2006032804181000.htm

National

Sezhiyan's plea

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Era Sezhiyan, former member of Parliament, on Monday urged the Union Government to publish fully the objections raised by several States to the Election Commission's claim to powers to take disciplinary action against erring officers deployed on poll duty. According to him, the Commission and the Union Government agreed to settle by mutual discussion the issue of such powers. Accordingly, the parties filed a memo of settlement, which came up before the Supreme Court on September 20, 2000. It held that other than Tripura, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Mizoram, which accepted the agreement in toto, the States had "some reservation[s] either in respect of one or the other item or altogether."

Mr. Sezhiyan, in a statement, wanted the Union Government to publish these objections. "It is one thing to send back the deputed officer, but another to call for a panel of names to choose one at the discretion of the Election Commission," he said.