Kochi: Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi there is no constitutional basis
for Opposition’s proposed move to impeach Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Disagreements within the three-member Election Commission (EC) are actually a healthy sign of democratic decision-making, Rohatgi told NDTV’s Shiv Aroor in an exclusive interview.
The Indian Express had reported that the two Election Commissioners sent 14 administrative notes to the CEC and wrote to the Cabinet Secretary raising objections to processes and decisions.
Rohatgi said such notes were internal and could not form the basis of a removal case because the commission decides by majority.
He said “the CEC is only one amongst the three. [CEC’s vote] is equal to the other two votes,” Rohatgi said. The EC, in a statement, said all its decisions had finally been unanimous.
Comparing the EC with multi-judge benches of the Supreme Court, Rohatgi said judges often disagree during hearings but deliver unanimous verdicts.
He rejected the need for an inquiry committee, too, into the EC matter. “What is there to inquire when I am telling you that the commission is speaking officially in one voice; there may be internal dissensions,” he said.
Rohatgi rubbishes EC “differences”
