3 ex-HC chief justices, 1 state election commissioner opposed simultaneous polls: Kovind report
New Delhi, Sep 18: Three former high court chief justices and one former state election commissioner were among those who objected to the idea of 'one nation, one election' during the consultations by a high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind.
However, all four former Supreme Court chief justices -- Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde and Justice U U Lalit -- the committee consulted provided written responses which were in favour of holding simultaneous elections, according to the Kovind panel's report.
The report accepted by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday has recommended simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the first step followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days.
Among the former chief justices of high courts, nine supported simultaneous elections, highlighting their potential benefits while three raised concerns or objections. Former Delhi High Court chief justice Ajit Prakash Shah opposed the concept of simultaneous elections, noting it may curb democratic expression along with concerns about distorted voting patterns and state-level political alterations.
"Additionally, he said that simultaneous elections hinder political accountability, as fixed terms offer representatives unwarranted stability without performance scrutiny, challenging democratic principles," the report noted.
Former Calcutta High Court chief justice Girish Chandra Gupta opposed simultaneous polls, saying the idea is not conducive to the principles of democracy.
"Justice Sanjib Banerjee, former Chief Justice, Madras High Court opposed simultaneous elections due to concerns that it would undermine India's federal structure and be prejudicial to regional issues.
"He cited empirical data showing frequent midterm state elections, emphasising the importance of allowing people to exercise their choices. He suggested state funding of elections as a more effective reform to tackle corruption and inefficiency," the report said.
All four former chief election commissioners, who were consulted by the panel, favoured simultaneous elections.
Amongst present and former state election commissioners consulted by the panel, seven endorsed the idea while former Tamil Nadu Election Commissioner V Palanikumar, expressed concerns.
"One primary concern emphasised was the pervasive dominance of national issues over local considerations during elections. The Commissioner expressed apprehension that this trend could potentially dilute the focus on region-specific challenges and
diminish the efficacy of local governance," the report noted.
"Furthermore, the Commissioner highlighted the acute issue of a shortage in electoral manpower, emphasising the imperative of bolstering staff to ensure the seamless and efficient execution of elections," it added.
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Bearys Institute of Technology Celebrates Constitution Day
(Press Release)- Mangalore, November 28, 2024: The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Bearys Institute of Technology (BIT), in association with the BIT NSS, organized a Constitution Day event under the theme “My Constitution, My Pride.” The event, held at the International Seminar Hall, saw active participation from students, NSS volunteers, and faculty.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Pushparaj, a distinguished academic from SDM Law College, Mangalore, who highlighted the significance of constitutional principles in shaping a progressive and inclusive society.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Head of Mechanical Engineering Department Dr. Vasantha Kumar, followed by an inaugural address by Dr. S I Manjur Basha, Principal of BIT.
The ceremony featured notable activities, including the watering of a plant to symbolize growth and sustainability, the oath taking of constitution's Preamble led by Dr. Mohamed Kafeel Delvi.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Pushparaj, was introduced by Dr. Imran Mokashi,Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The event was coordinated by Dr. Mohamed Kafeel Delvi, NSS Program Officer & Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Sandeep Nambiar S, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Saifulla, a student of the 3rd Semester, Mechanical Department, served as the Master of Ceremonies, ensuring the program flowed seamlessly.
This celebration reinforced the importance of the Constitution and inspired attendees, to uphold its values in their daily lives.
