The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : CEC’s letter

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Friday, Feb 13, 2009
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

CEC’s letter

As a regular reader of The Hindu for over six decades, it is my well-considered view that there is always an implied assurance of authenticity in all its reports. By tradition, it avoids publishing sensational reports. The prompt publication of the letter received from Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami, along with Editor-in-Chief N. Ram’s response (Feb. 12), bears ample testimony to its credibility.

As rightly mentioned in the concluding paragraph of the response, l’affaire Gopalaswami vs Chawla goes beyond individuals. It relates to the future of a key institution entrusted with the duty of holding free and fair elections in the country.

K.D. Viswanaathan,

Coimbatore

I would like to congratulate Mr. Ram on the excellent response to Mr. Gopalaswami’s letter. As pointed out by him, the issue at stake goes beyond individuals and relates to the future of the institution of the Election Commission. The institution indeed needs reform.

K. Seshamani,

Chennai

The Chief Election Commissioner’s letter and Mr. Ram’s response make interesting reading. However, they have not succeeded in setting at rest the controversy surrounding the august office of Election Commission just before the general election. It is not clear how the CEC assumed even before meeting the BJP delegation that it intended to raise issues relating to his colleague and granted the visitors audience in his chambers. Was this not an act of dividing the office of Election Commission and against the spirit of the Constitution?

How and why did the CEC give more importance to a political party over his own colleague? Could he not have handled the issue without undermining the Election Commission in full public glare?

E. Srinivasa Charyulu,

Secunderabad

Mr. Gopalaswami has once again kicked up a controversy over the power of the CEC to recommend the removal of an Election Commissioner. Not long ago, a photograph in The Hindu showed him flanked by the other two Election Commissioners. It appeared that all was well in the Election Commission. The controversy should be given the quietus.

S.K. Rajagopalan,

Chennai

The tussle between Mr. Gopalaswami and Mr. Chawla has exposed what should have been judiciously swept under the carpet.

Subha G.,

Chennai

The publication of the CEC’s letter, along with Mr. Ram’s response, reflects the high journalistic standards that The Hindu has set for itself. But it is also true that Mr. Gopalaswami has a reputation as being honest. That and the fact that the CEC has a good knowledge of the functioning of the Election Commission suggest that there could be some truth in his allegations.

Ranjeeth Dasineni,

Bangalore

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