New Delhi: Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Saturday flayed the Election Commission and the judiciary for
"not pursuing" cases of electoral misconduct and said the
government was willing to give more powers to the poll panel
to take on the offenders.
"I don't know whether the Election Commission has power
or not. But what you do thereafter, after elections.
Thereafter, I think the cases are not pursued, they
(offenders) are not prosecuted. This is the area where the
Election Commission will have to apply its mind," he said
addressing a seminar on electoral reforms here.
Law Ministry is the controlling authority of the Election
Commission.
Moily also expressed displeasure at the way cases of
electoral misconduct were treated by the judiciary.
"Of course the judiciary takes its own sweet time. Till
the next term is over, they will not dispose of the case," he
said adding that judiciary and the EC will have to address the
issue.
"You always blame the politician," he added.
He wondered whether there "is one instance where the EC
has investigated and disqualified a candidate?"
At the same time, he assured that "whatever the support
of law is required, I am there to make the law. You want the
power, we will give you the power."
PTI
First Published: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 21:22