The Hindu : National : No pressure on State Election Commissioner: Vilasrao

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006

National

National

No pressure on State Election Commissioner: Vilasrao

Special Correspondent

Allegations due to denial of judge status

MUMBAI : Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has denied in the State Assembly that he exertedpressure on State Election Commissioner Nand Lal.

Making a suo motu statement in both Houses, Mr. Deshmukh said that Mr. Lal was making such allegations because the Government had not accepted his "persistent demand" that he be accorded the status of a High Court judge.

He said the former Chief Election Commissioner, T.N. Seshan, had also wanted the status of a judge, but the Supreme Court had rejected his plea.

Mr. Lal's two predecessors had also sought the status of a High Court judgebut the State Government had turned down their pleas on the advice of the Advocate General.

Mr. Deshmukh denied Mr. Lal's charge that he was harassed and transferred out due to vengeance.

Good remarks

He said he had made good and appreciative remarks about Mr. Lal in his confidential reports and that paved the way for the officer's rise to the rank of Additional Chief Secretary and thereby to his present position.

Referring to Mr. Lal's complaint that he was transferred out of the office of the Principal Secretary, Forests, because he saved land worth Rs. 1000 crore from the "politicians-land shark combine," Mr. Deshmukh said the matter was under investigation much before Mr. Lal got that office and, therefore, the latter he could not claim any credit for it.

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