No move to ban opinion polls now: Sibal

Faced with the prospect of judicial scrutiny of any decision to ban opinion polls,the Centre Monday said there was no move “at this time” to ban opinion polls,asserting that such a decision would be taken only after adequate consultations with all political parties. “There is no move to ban opinion polls at this time,” Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here,adding,“As it is,no government should ban opinion polls without consulting political parties.” Sources in the government also said the Law Ministry is also planning to write to the Election Commission (EC) to discuss the issue,as it was the election watchdog that has been seeking ban on opinion polls. As reported in The Indian Express Monday,the government was uncertain over whether to ban opinion polls,something that has been supported by current Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati in a recent legal opinion,or drop the EC proposal since a former AG,renowned jurist Soli Sorabjee,had given a contrary opinion.