PIL seeks widing up of Election Commission

Madurai Bench of Madras High Court today ordered notice to Chief Election Commissioner and others on a PIL seeking to wind up the Election Commission (EC) and suggesting formation of an Election Court comprising Supreme Court Judges to ensure free and fair polls.
A division bench comprising Justice R Sudhakar and Justice V M Velumani ordered notice to officials, including the Chief Election Commissioner of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu.
Petitioner A Krishnan from Perungudi in Tiurnelveli District listed 16 "reasons/ideas" to buttress his plea to wind up the EC.
He suggested and prayed that instead of the EC, an Election Court comprising Supreme Court Judges could be formed on permanent basis or on deputation basis to conduct polls, and adjudicate election disputes.

It should also adjudicate cases of Public affairs relating to people's representatives and the power of disqualifying MPs or MLAs should also be vested with it, the petitioner said.
He submitted Election Commissioners were only government servants and were psychologically bonded to political leaders. They could not be impartial.

Unless the rules were changed in the present election system, with power in the hands of the election officials, no EC could conduct a fair election, he contended.
He also suggested that government servants should be allowed to take part in politics and the pension scheme for legislators should be stopped.

In case of a vertical split in a party, all MLAs and MPs from the party should be declared independents.
He said he had made several representations to the authorities on his demands.