Shillong, July 5: Meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice on “electoral reforms –code of conduct for political parties and anti defection law” with representatives of state government, political parties, NGO’s, individual and other stake holders of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya was held at Pine Wood on Friday.
Addressing media persons after the meeting Head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, Shantaram Naik informed that several views and suggestions was obtained derived out of the meeting.
Naik mentioned that the stake holders and various political parties opined that everything is not right with the functioning of the Election Commission as they opined that Election Commission should
When enquired whether the constitutional body was over-stepping its constitutional mandate, Naik said that according to Article 324 the EC can only point out the existing laws and not frame which is being done.
“They are unfortunately creating laws under the guise of Article 324,” Naik said adding that the Committee wanted to stop the EC from “taking away our powers” as it was “creating laws” like cancellation of the registration of political parties, which, is actually the prerogative of the Parliament.
Besides, Naik also informed that the use of ‘money power’ was also being discussed by the committee adding that the committee would examine the issue of ceiling on expenditure during elections.
He also said the Committee was also examining whether the code-of-conduct should be made part of the “main election law”, the Representation of People Act, 1951.
Informing that all political parties has sought a ban on the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) while the EC is confident about the functioning of the EVM, Naik said that the committee will examine the matter.
Pointing out that the EVM has no mechanism for getting print-outs, Naik said that it is the constitutional right of the voters to know who they voted for.
The Committee, which has already held audience at Mumbai and Kolkata, would submit a detailed report on its findings to the Parliament by the end of the forthcoming monsoon session, suggesting amendments to the existing laws that guide elections in the country.(SP News)
