Poll panel to discuss statute change to discuss EC removal

The three-member Election Commission will meet shortly to discuss amendment of the Constitution to see that the CEC does not have the power of removing an Election Commissioner.

New Delhi: The three-member Election
Commission will meet shortly to discuss amendment of the
Constitution to see that the CEC does not have the power of
removing an Election Commissioner against the backdrop of the
unprecedented recommendation against him last year.

Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, against whom
his predecessor N Gopalaswami made a recommendation for his
removal last year, says that the CEC does not have such a
power and the Constitution should reflect that position.

As the Commission celebrates the Diamond Jubilee on
Monday, he feels that a multi-member Commission is "ideal" on
several grounds.

"I don`t believe that I have the power. I have the power
only of consensus. We are a three-member Commission. Only for
administrative reasons, there is a CEC. Otherwise our powers
are completely equal," he told PTI in an interview.

Asked what has been the government`s reaction to his view
on the issue, Chawla, who will demit office in July after more
than a year as CEC, said he has still not written to the
government.

"I propose to consider that (writing to the government)
after the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. I have not written

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