PANAJI
The mandate of the State Election Commission is to ensure timely elections to local bodies. In fact, this is the one and only function of the SEC. If it fails in its primary constitutional duty, then it reduces itself to yet another department of the government and surrenders its independence and autonomy before the ruling political executive, says former state election commissioner Prabhakar Timble.
Whatever is the directive of the Supreme Court in respect of OBC reservations, it does not provide license to postpone the mandated elections beyond the term of the Panchayats. Even in the wildest imagination this could not be the intention or outcome of the Court judgement, he adds.
That monsoons will hit Goa in mid-June was known well in advance. It is a poor consolation if the SEC is postponing elections upholding these two reasons, says Timble.
Appointment of government administrators is unthinkable despite the existence of independent statutory authority. It only proves the failure of the SEC to stop the malpractice of appointment of government administrators and be an abettor in this game. In fact, SEC is providing legality to the illegal practice, he concludes.
