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Journalism of Courage
In a terse note to the Cabinet secretary, the Election Commission has rapped the Government for announcing its decision to set up a National Commission —to evolve a reservation policy for religious and linguistic minorities — at a time when election process was on in Arunchal Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Describing the move as ‘‘a lapse’’ which ‘‘should have been avoided’’, sources said the EC pointed out that the government should have sought permission from it before making the decision public.
It has the ‘‘same potential for influencing a section of voters but the matter was not referred to the Election Commission for its views,’’ the EC’s letter noted.
It was also pointed out that the government had sought the Commission’s views on the issue of changing the subsidy policy for Haj travel, and had been advised to defer it. A similar exercise should have been undertaken on the minority reservation issue as well.
The EC further noted that it would have been better had the announcement been made after October 13 — that is after the polling in Maharashtra.
Now that the Cabinet has taken the decision, the EC cannot do much to hold the implementation of the National Commission for long. That was one of the reasons behind the Commission’s decision to rap the government for what could be very well be a ‘‘vote-catching’’ endeavour.
The National Commission for the welfare of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities at this juncture ‘‘gives the impression of being aimed at influencing some sections of the electorate,’’ EC noted.
However, the EC officials later said the move to set up a National Commission for minority reservation did not amount to a violation of the model code of conduct as such a commission was in continuation of the President’s address to both Houses of the Parliament on June 7, 2004. The code was framed to ensure a level playing field for all contestants.
While the terms covered in the UPA government’s Common Minimum Programme or the President’s address were the statements of intent of the party in power, ‘‘the Cabinet decision on the respective issues translates the intent to an implementable/actionable matter,’’ the EC added.
