NEW DELHI: The crisis in the Election Commission deepened further with the two Election Commissioners, MS Gilland GVG Krishna munhy, bluntly telling the Chief Election Commissioner, TN Seshan, that he should follow the judgment of Supreme Court in Letter and spirit. While Krishnamurthy replied to Seshan in two lines, Gill wrote a twopage levier saying that without a joint meeting issues relating to cordial functioning of the commission could not be resolved. It may be mentioned here that Seshan had written separate letters to his two colleagues asking them to give their constructive suggestion for the functioning of the Election Commission. ‘Seshan had written this letter following a decision by the Full Bench of the Supreme Court equating the powers of the Election Commissioners with that of the Chief Election Commissioner. Seshan, who was holidaying in the USA at the time of the verdict, decided not to attend his office in Nirvacan Sadan. It was perhaps his way of lodging protest against the Verdict, But when the Solicitor General of India referred to the conduct of Seshan orally before the Supreme Court Bench, Seshan attended his office the next day. Since then nothing has moved in the commission, ace cording to the sources.
According to authoritative sources, Krishmamurthy has written in his note to Seshan that the functioning of the commission has come to a grinding halt as no decision had been taken on vital issues. He said, “You are missing the spirit of the Supreme Court Judgment.”
Gillis understood to have said in his letter that it was high time for him to “reread” the Supreme Court judgment rather than writing misgives. He pointed out in great detail the circumstances and the background in which the commission’s functioning had come to a grinding halt and had become a laughing stock. It was also pointed out that apart from taking a view on holding elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the commission also had to gear up to hold general elections in the country. The question of formulating. a model code of conduct and also preparation of I cards was also high on the agenda, This apart, there were issues which were to be attended too a day to day basis and a regular integration was necessary.
Gill is understood to have also impressed upon Seshan that the commission could create an impression of holding a free and fair poll in the country only when its own members Were able to create an image of being just and fair. It was high time that decisions were taken collectively without any prejudices.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 18, 1995
