42 retired judges and officers back Election Commission in open letter amid SIR row
The signatories say a campaign without evidence is being run to damage constitutional bodies, and defend the special intensive revision of voter lists as lawful.
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Forty-two retired judges and retired senior officers have issued a joint open letter amid allegations by political parties against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission. The letter alleges that a campaign is being run, without any evidence, to damage the image of constitutional institutions.
The former judges and officers say attempts to reduce public trust in autonomous constitutional bodies such as the higher judiciary and the Election Commission are dangerous for democracy.
Political charges and counter-charges are being traded across the country over the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list. The letter sets out the signatories' position on the process against this backdrop.
The letter claims that the SIR process is fully valid and legal under the 1950 law. It says the purpose of the exercise is to remove the names of dead, bogus or shifted voters from the rolls and to add the names of eligible citizens. According to the former judges and officers, it is an administrative process that is being given the colour of a political conspiracy to spread confusion among people.
The letter also expresses displeasure that insulting language is being used against the Election Commission and the courts from political platforms. It appeals to parties that make serious allegations about the election process to present their case in court with affidavits and evidence.
The letter also takes a dig at the political stand on EVMs. It says a party questions the EVMs when it loses an election but accepts them when it wins with the same machines. According to the letter, political parties should act responsibly when making allegations against the Election Commission or the judiciary.
The letter warns that if public trust in constitutional institutions is lost, conditions of anarchy could arise in the country and anti-national forces could benefit. The former judges and officers said political parties should certainly contest elections, but should not drag the reputation of constitutional institutions in the dust. Anyone with a grievance should place it before a court or the Election Commission with evidence, they said.
The letter also asks the media not to amplify political claims or rumours as news without verification. It appeals to citizens not to trust any political claim blindly, to check the facts and to keep faith in the power of the vote.
