NEW DELHI, SEPT 12: The Election Commission on Tuesday said it was seeking early resolution of two vexed issues in the Supreme Court on its jurisdiction over poll officials and the time of enforcement of the model code of conduct in view of the Assembly polls in five states early next year."After the Haryana experience, the Supreme Court is in agreement with the Commission's insistence on photo identity cards for elections," Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill told reporters here.The Commission had successfully made use of photo identity cards and electronic voting machines in the recently concluded Assembly polls in Haryana.In a bid to amicably resolve the question of disciplinary control over poll officials which has been hanging fire for last seven years, the Election Commission and the Centre have filed a joint petition in the Supreme Court, Gill said.Similarly, the CEC said the Commission was also keen on early settlement to these two issues pending in the Apex Court for many years. This was all the most important in view of impending Assembly polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Pondicherry, Gill said.Though Constitution has vested the Commission with powers to control, superintendence and discipline, the Centre had taken the view that the poll panel has no power to take disciplinary action against the officers deployed on poll duties prior to the filing of the joint petition, he said."The experience has been that during the course of election, almost all parties and contesting candidates have some grievance or other, about bias/misconduct on the part of election officials," Gill said hoping the Supreme Court would hear and dispose of the matter speedily.Enthused by the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had held that the model code comes into operation from the date the election schedule was announced by the Commission, Gill said the political parties should find a common ground on the issue."The model code of conduct was evolved, not by the Commission unilaterally, but by the consensus of all political parties for ensuring a level playing field for them. Its implementation is necessary for the conduct of free and fair election and to ensure that no political party particularly the party in power gets an unfair advantage," he said.The CEC said the issue would be discussed threadbare at the all party meeting convened by the Commission here on September 16 to evolve a consensus.For a healthy and effective management of election, the poll schedule has to be announced prior to the date of notification and with it the model code of conduct has to be enforced, Gill said."A departure from this principle could lead to a situation at a future date, when the Commission may not make any prior announcement or make the announcement and issue the notification on the same day, leading to a chaotic political condition in the country," he said.The Commission, however, did not interfere with any ongoing schemes or developmental programmes as these were not attracted by the model code of conduct, Gill clarified.Replying to a question the Women's Reservation Bill, the CEC, who has been strongly advocating for more representation to women, regretted "football is being played by all political parties" but said it was for Parliament to decide on the issue.The Commission has suggested that instead of following the 33 per cent reservation route for women in the Lok Sabha and assemblies, it might be desirable to insist that all recognised political parties give adequate space to women in the political process."This can be easily achieved by simple legal provision, which will require all recognised political parties to set up specified percentage of women candidates in all state and parliamentary elections they take part," the Commission has said."I still think our idea is good. May be one day it will come true," Gill added.
