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The Supreme Court on Friday observed said that the independence of the Election Commission cannot be compromised in a democracy and added that giving the additional charges of a State Election Commission to a government official is a mockery.
Updated Mar 12, 2021 | 13:22 IST
The apex court ruled that under the Constitutional mandate, it is the duty of the state to not interfere with the functioning of the state election commission. Supreme Court of India. | File image  |  Photo Credit: PTI
Key Highlights
The bench also ordered that the Goa Election Commission will have to issue notification for Panchayat polls in the state within 10 days
The judgement was delivered upon an appeal by the Goa government against the high court’s ruling on panchayat elections
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India in an order on Friday said that State Election Commissioners must be independent persons, that states can’t appoint a person who holds any office with the ruling government.
NEW DELHI: At a time when the West Bengal government is accusing the state Election Commission (EC) of bias, the Supreme Court on Friday said the independence of Election Commissions is sacrosanct under the Constitution and that no government can even give additional charge of State Election Commission to a bureaucrat serving under the government.
A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman while stinging the Goa government for giving law secretary the additional charge of state EC, who too faced lashing for trying to overreach the HC in a case relating to reservation of SC/OBC and Women seats in elections, said Henceforth, all state election commission shall be headed by independent persons who do not hold any office under the state government. If they hold any such office, then they have to resign before taking charge of the office.
Goa EC will have to complete Panchayat polls process by April 30: SC aninews.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from aninews.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.