Friday, August 24, 2012

THE POLITICAL CLASS MAINTAINS A BELLIGERENT STANCE

THE APEX COURT, ELECTION COMMISSION AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE MULLING STEPS TO REFORM THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. BUT THE POLITICAL CLASS MAINTAINS A BELLIGERENT STANCE.

The HC, post intense deliberation gave a verdict in the favour of the people in 2000. The judgment prompted major political parties joined hands and appealed in the Supreme Court (SC). However, SC directed the Election Commission to furnish the necessary details about the candidate. The ruling establishment passed an ordinance to nullify the verdict and sent it for approval by then president APJ Abdul Kalam, who returned the ordinance for reconsideration. However, when it was sent to him for the second time, he had to sign it as per constitutional obligation. Jagdeep S. Chhokar, eminent liberal thinker and one of the key members who fought the battle, comments, “Though the court verdict was understood as judiciary interference in executive, SC said that it has just tried to fill the void which should have been filled by executive.”

Echoing the view of civil rights activists, J. M. Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner, says: “Even now, some politicians show assets of merely thousands even though they own crores of rupees.” In essence, the battle to make our establishment and political system more transparent and accountable will continue unabated. The revolutionary steps by judicial activists like Justice P N Bhagwati and Justice V R Krishna Ayer and many more are a must for a democratic society to effectively implement fundamental human rights.


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