In 2017 the very lackluster RK Srivastava on his retirement as Chief Secretary was rewarded with a post retirement plumb posting as State Election Commissioner. As Chief Secretary he had bent, bowed and crawled all over, while blindly signing on the dotted line at the dictates of the political bosses. He recently suddenly resigned as SEC just days before he was convicted by a CBI Court in Delhi and sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment.
Law Secretary CR Garg has been now given the additional charge as SEC and will have to deal with the mess left behind by his predecessor until a new full-fledged SEC is appointed.
The SEC is also responsible for the delimitation and reservation of wards for the Panchayat and Municipal elections including that of the CCP. It has been a routine to announce the reservations of wards just a few days before the nominations open. This is a very bad and unfair practice as the reservation of wards need to be done well in advance.
As the Municipal elections are expected to be held early next year it is expected that the SEC will act promptly in this regard while not succumbing to any political pressures or maneuvers whatsoever.
AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
