A major controversy erupted when Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and fellow Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anoop Chandra Pandey recently held an “informal interaction” with the Prime Minister’s Office to bridge gaps in understanding of key electoral reforms between the poll panel and the Law Ministry. But EC sources however insisted on Friday that the question of propriety of the meting does not arise in doing so.The commission had been pushing for reforms in electoral laws and related issues, and the virtual interaction in November was held to “bridge the gaps in understanding the points of views of the Law Ministry and the Election Commission (EC)”, they said.The sources said amid a series of correspondence between the government and the poll panel on electoral reforms, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) took the lead in organising the “informal interaction” with the three commissioners.Responding to the news report about the informal meeting between the PMO and the Election Commissioners, former chief election commissioner (CEC) S Y Quraishi said it was “absolutely shocking”. The Indian Express quoted the former chief election commissioner as saying, “This is unacceptable with any explanation. Would the government call the Chief Justice of India along with all other Supreme Court judges for a discussion on judicial reforms? That’s the only analogy that applies in this case. So why call the (Election) Commission for a meeting? Even the Prime Minister cannot call the CEC for a meeting.”Another former CEC told Indian Express on condition of anonymity that this meeting with the PMO was “100% avoidable”.Another former CEC, T S Krishnamurthy was quoted by the web site as saying, ” All I can say is that Election Commissioners are not required to attend any meeting convened by officials, having regard to its Constitutional status. Of course, clarifications, if required by the government, can be sought from the ECI in writing, for which responses can be given in writing.”With assembly elections in five states drawing nearer, the meeting could raise doubts on the impartial and neutral approach of the Election Commission, the former CECs opined.
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