NEW DELHI: In his most acerbic attack ever on Chief Election Commissioner, T.N. Seshan, Election Commissioner, M.S. Gill has said it is time for the country to decide if the vast powers to indiscriminately put off elections and budgets should be left to one whimsical person.

In a interview last week, Gill criticized several actions of the CEC including his controversial move on asking the Government to defer the presentation of the Budget, the threat not to hold polls without identity cards and the argument that the model code of conduct comes into force from the day the commission indicated an election

He also commented on Seshan’s frequent visits to holy men. “I am very concerned as I have been Watching that the shadow of religion has been projecting over the Election Commission for the last year or more. The very obvious publicity and projection of the CEC’s visits to holy men here and there gives no confidence for an impartial referring over sensitive matters.”

Gill was referring to Seshan’s omnibus warning to political parties against misuse of religion and caste for furthering electoral prospects. “Everybody will agree that religion, caste and other petty considerations should not influence in elections. But the new wide ranging order of the commission would allow it to read it in any manner against any individual and party as it pleases. I do not wish to see it done by a one-man commission,” he said. “If these vast powers to put off polls, to put off budgets and to do a hundred other things are left to one whimsical mind, this too the country should decide. Don’t have Gill, if you don’t like his face but as a minority man myself I don’t feel safe with a one-man commission, whoever he may be,” he said.

Asked how he, a very active person otherwise, felt on being rendered without any work following the Supreme Court’s interim order holding Seshan supremacy. Gill said: “Certainly, the total idleness is a Dantesque punishment but I can bear it. On the resolution of the court matter all I can say is that it must have very valid reasons for the continuing situation which I am sure it will share with the country when it wishes.”

The Election Commissioner questioned the CEC’s wisdom in calling for deferment of the Budget and dubbed the move absurd. “This is really to stand the parliamentary system on its head,” he said.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 20, 1995