Gyanesh Kumar: TN Seshan believed that the post of Chief Election Commissioner was the highest and highest. He had challenged that decision of the then PV Narasimha Rao government in the court.
Gyanesh Kumar News: These days, the Election Commission remains at the center of discussion because of the country’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This is not the first time that the organization that conducts elections from Panchayat to Parliament in the country has faced allegations or is surrounded in controversies. The Election Commission had grabbed the maximum headlines when TN Seshan was the Chief Election Commissioner. The then CEC was accused of becoming the sole boss of the Election Commission. The matter had reached the Supreme Court, from where TN Seshan was disappointed.
MS Gill, who held the responsibility of Election Commissioner along with him, had revealed this during an interview. In an interview with India Today, he spoke about his experiences of working with TN Seshan. Apart from Gill, GVG Krishnamurthy was also holding the responsibility of Election Commissioner. Gill said that during his tenure, TN Seshan had almost ignored his presence in the Commission.
TN Seshan believed that the post of Chief Election Commissioner was the highest and highest. He had challenged in the court the decision of the then PV Narasimha Rao government, under which two other commissioners were given equal rights. He had reached the Supreme Court. In 1995, a five-judge Constitution bench rejected TN Seshan’s petition. The apex court said in clear words that the Election Commission is a multi-member body and decisions will be taken by majority in it. After this, TN Seshan also filed a review petition, but the court rejected it too.
Let us tell you that TN Seshan is known for his strict image. During his booth capturing tour, he completely changed the credibility and image of the Election Commission in India.
Were there always three bosses in the Election Commission?
The answer is no. Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the Election Commission may consist of a Chief Election Commissioner and such other Election Commissioners as may be decided by the President. When the Election Commission was established in 1950, there was only one member in the Commission, i.e. the Chief Election Commissioner. Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India.
Its first expansion took place in 1989. Rajiv Gandhi’s government appointed SS Dhanoa and VS Siegel as Election Commissioners just before the Lok Sabha elections. In 1990, the VP Singh government abolished these posts and the Commission again became single-member. During this period, in December 1990, TN Seshan took over the post of CEC.
Narasimha Rao government appointed two more commissioners
On October 1, 1993, P.V. The Narasimha Rao government again made the Commission multi-member by appointing MS Gill and GVG Krishnamurthy as Election Commissioners. TN Seshan believed that the government had taken this step to curb and control his powers. TN Seshan challenged this decision and the rules of functioning of the commission in the Supreme Court. He argued that the status of the CEC in the Constitution is above that of other commissioners and in the absence of unanimity in the commission, the decision of the CEC should be final.
How did the dispute escalate?
TN Seshan’s conflict with both his election commissioners became public in June 1995. When TN Seshan was going to America on a month’s leave. Instead of giving the charge of the commission to his two commissioners, he gave it to Deputy Election Commissioner D.S. Handed over to Bagga. This decision was sharply criticized by constitutional experts and senior lawyers.
What was the decision of the Supreme Court
In July 1995, the then Chief Justice A.M. The Constitution bench of 5 judges headed by Ahmadi gave the verdict unanimously. The court said that the Constitution allows a multi-member Election Commission. Being the Chairman, the Chief Election Commissioner does not have any special powers over other Commissioners. All three members of the Commission have equal status and decisions will be taken on the basis of majority. This decision decided that the Chief Election Commissioner of India cannot take decisions unilaterally by ignoring the opinions of his two fellow commissioners.