EC caught off-guard by SC suggestion

The Election Commission on Monday said it was unaware of a recent Supreme Court recommendation that video cameras be installed and para-mili...

The Election Commission on Monday said it was unaware of a recent Supreme Court recommendation that video cameras be installed and para-military personnel posted inside polling booths.

‘‘We are yet to get a copy of the judgement. We are not aware of the exact nature of the Supreme Court direction on this issue,’’ said EC’s legal counsel S.K. Mehendiratta.

The court’s suggestion has come as an embarrassment for Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy who had announced a ban on cameras inside polling stations for the Assembly polls in Haryana, Bihar and Jharkhand. The ban, the first-ever in the country, was imposed on the grounds that it created confusion and obstructed the polling process.

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The court’s suggestion came during a recent ruling dismissing a petition that challenged the election of RJD’s Ram Das Rai to the Bihar Assembly in 2000.

To prevent malpractices by poll officials, the Supreme Court had said, ‘‘We would like to suggest that the Election Commission consider posting some para-military personnel inside the polling booth, in addition to those maintaining law and order outside it.’’

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