Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta on Monday wrote to the Election Commission expressing reservations over the State Legislative Assembly Secretariat appointing its Joint Secretary A.M.P. Jamaludeen as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in connection with the formation of the Legislative Council.
[An order issued by the Assembly Secretariat on Saturday had stated that the OSD would coordinate with the Public (Elections) Department on work relating to delimitation of constituencies and election of members to the Council in the temporary post for one year.]
According to Mr. Gupta, the delimitation of the Council constituencies and conduct of elections for the Council lie with the Election Commission, which will be assisted by the Public (Elections) Department/CEO's office.
Stating that this is the practice in other States where the Legislative Councils are in existence, the CEO, who is an Additional Chief Secretary and chief of the State Public (Elections) Department, is of the opinion that there should have been at least consultation with his department before the appointment.
Mr. Gupta has also sent a note to M. Selvaraj, Legislative Assembly Secretary.
Asked for his reaction, Mr. Selvaraj told The Hindu there was no intention on the part of the Assembly Secretariat to interfere with the jurisdiction of the Election Commission.
“We are not supposed to do that. We will never do it.”
The order was, the Assembly Secretary explained, issued only to enable the coordination work and frame rules for the Council on issues, including service matters.
The CEO added that an Additional Secretary of the Elections Department would leave for Hyderabad on Tuesday to ascertain the approach and methodology adopted in Andhra Pradesh at the time of the revival of the Council in 2007.
He would hold discussions with officials concerned.
On Monday, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, along with Law Minister Durai Murugan and senior officials, inspected the Chamber meant for the Legislative Council at the new Assembly-Secretariat complex.
Mr. Jamaludeen called on the Chief Minister.
