DPS Society: Montek, Khurshid panel calls for repoll

The only vote that was not counted belonged to author Khushwant Singh who cast a postal ballot. After objections on this “missing vote” were raised by some members of the society, a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) consisting of Khurshid, Ahluwalia and former bureaucrat Ravi Vira Gupta was set up.

The panel last week made a formal recommendation, after a probe into the matter and speaking to Singh, that fresh elections should be conducted for the position of chairman and vice-chairman.

“Taking all factors into account, the DRC feels that the objective of maintaining harmony within the society would be best served by conducting a fresh election for the position of chairman and vice-chairman,” a DRC report forwarded to Shunglu by Ahluwalia reads.

The report, sent to Shunglu on February 7, also asks for a general body meeting of the society to discuss its findings and recommendations. The row pertains to Singh’s vote that was apparently not counted despite the author sending it through an emissary. Singh could not come for the election but as per the board rules was entitled to the postal vote. His vote would have tied the elections. “The committee noted that the final voting tally was 9 votes to 8. This means that in case Khushwant Singh voted with the 8 members on one side, the elections would have been a tie. His vote therefore matters,” the report says.

The matter seems to be heading for a legal logjam with Shunglu believed to be in no mood to accept the findings of the panel. Sources said legal advice has been sought by both sides and the case may go to a court for resolution.