EC seeks Press Council's help

The Election Commission of India seeks the help of the Press Council of India in monitoring paid news during election time.Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said in a press conference‘paid news' “has assumed serious proportions and is more pronounced in some States.". The candidate's expenditure monitoring cell will be tightened by the commission, reports The Hindu.

Read the whole article here:


PANAJI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought the help of the Press Council of India (PCI) in monitoring the media-related malpractices like “paid news” during elections as its jurisdiction is limited to going into candidate's election spending.

Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi told a press conference here on Tuesday that ‘paid news' indulged in by some sections of the media “has assumed serious proportions and is more pronounced in some States.”

As far as the Commission was concerned, it was making all efforts to tighten the candidate's expenditure monitoring cell which is headed by an Income Tax Officer. This cell would work in close cooperation with the PCI to monitor practices like “paid news” which were eventually directly related to the influence of money power in the elections, he said.

Mr. Quraishi was in Goa along with Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath to chair a conference of chief electoral officers from the west zone which includes Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

He said the ECI was going ahead with a nationwide programme to increase the participation of youth in the electoral process as it was noticed that often they were not aware of their voting right or seemed to be disillusioned for diverse reasons and kept away from the election process.

“We want to give the youth a sense of participation in the election process. This segment is generally omitted from the voters' list because very often they are cynical about democratic processes,” he said.

“We are celebrating National Voter's Day on January 25, when the Election Commission was founded 60 years ago, one day before the country became a republic,” Mr. Quraishi said.

He said a nationwide drive would be conducted on January 25 in an attempt to induct 2 crore youngsters turning 18 that month into the electoral process.

A programme covering 8.5 lakh voting booths across the country would be held that day to distribute photo identity cards to as many as 2.5 crore eligible voters.

The ECI has so far issued 714 million voting cards across the country.

Reliability

On the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), Mr. Quraishi reiterated his complete faith in the EVM technology which he said had stood the test of time since it was first introduced in 1982.

Read the article on Miracle Of Democracy.

Election commission can't control paid news during elections: SY Qureshi

Chief election commissioner of India SY Quraishi said that the commission cannot control paid news during the elections."Our role comes in picture only when the candidate exceeds the expenditure ceiling. We cannot question the media, our powers extend only to candidates," he said. He added that a special body should be formed covering all media, reports Daily News And Analysis.

Read the whole article here:

Chief election commissioner of India SY Quraishi today said the commission cannot control media players indulging in paid news practices during the elections.

"Our role comes in picture only when the candidate exceeds the expenditure ceiling. We cannot question the media, our powers extend only to candidates," Quraishi told reporters here.

He said it is for the Press Council of India (PCI) to set guidelines for the media.

When pointed out that the electronic media is out of PCI's ambit, Quraishi said there is a lacunae and a special body needs to be formed covering all the media.

The chief election commissioner said the paid news issue extends beyond the election period.

"Paid news and money power are a big concern for the commission. We are trying to address these issues through proper ways," he said.

"Money power and paid news have attained serious proportion. In some states, it's widespread," the chief election commissioner said.

He said a special expenditure monitoring cell has been formed and detailed guidelines are prepared to control the money power.

Responding to a question, Quraishi said the commission is also probing the issue of names of foreigners being included in the voters' list. Goa is among the states which faces this problem, he added.

Besides Goa, a few other states have also pointed out similar instances of foreigners getting enrolled as voters, he said.

"Each and every complaint received by the commission is investigated. We see that each and every person is attended to," he added.

Read the article on Miracle of Democracy.

Dr. S.Y. Quraishi Assumes Charge as New CEC

Dr. S.Y. Quraishi assumed the charge as the 17th Chief Election Commissioner of India. He will be succeeding Shri Navin B. Chawla. Quraishi said that he will take over the office wioth a sense of deep honour and pride. Enhancing voter-ship and bringing down the role of money power, he said, is a big problem facing Indian democracy, says a press release of Press Information Bureau.

Read the whole article on Miracle Of Democracy.

Excerpts:

The following is the text of the statement by Dr. Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Chief Election Commissioner:-

“I take over this office with a sense of deep honour and pride. Election Commission is one of the most valuable gifts of the Indian Constitution to the people. I had the opportunity of serving this august institution with equal pride as Election Commissioner for the last four years. While the framers of the Constitution insulated the Election Commission from all possible pressures, its the judiciary that has zealously guarded the independence of the Commission against any assault. The Supreme Court has ensured that this Commission only grows stronger.

In our multi-member Commission that has the principle of equality as its hallmark, any transition is marked by continuity. This has also contributed to the impartiality and absolute neutrality of the Commission at all times.

In great institutions, priorities do not change overnight; they do not change radically either. Our basics are perennial. We would continuously strive to deliver free and fair election wherever and whenever required. At the same time, despite the strength of the Commission’s heritage, our systems are continuously evolving. We not only deal with issues as we confront them, we try to anticipate several of them.

Enhancing Voters Participation and restricting the role of money power in elections are among the emerging challenges. These will receive due priority. We are already working systematically to achieve a perfect electoral roll at the earliest.

We plan to institutionalize electoral training and exchange of experience at an international scale and quality. This would be backed by documentation of innovative electoral practices in order to strengthen election management not only in India but also across the world.

I am encouraged by the fact that some of the overdue electoral reforms have started receiving attention of the Government and the Parliament. I have hope that other important reforms would find acceptance at an early date.

Elections in India are known not only for their scale, but also for their credibility. I realise the responsibility that the Election Commission carries towards keeping India’s democracy firmly on the rails. I have abiding faith that the Commission will continue to deliver on its mandate, in the face of all challenges old and new, as it has always done in the past. Election Commission of India is an institution in which the nation places a great trust. It would be my utmost endeavour to prove myself worthy of this trust. Let me use this occasion to seek the support of all stakeholders, especially the people of India in the discharge of my sacred duties”.

Quraishi appointed new CEC

S Y Quraishi was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner, succeeding Navin Chawla. Quraishi will conduct assembly elections in Bihar this year. Quraishi is a 1971-batch IAS officer. He said that Indian elections are known for its scale and credibility reports The Times of India.

Read the whole article on Miracle Of Democracy.

Excerpts:

S Y Quraishi, Election Commissioner, was on Tuesday appointed the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in the place of Navin Chawla, who demits office on Thursday.

Quraishi, a thoroughbred civil servant, will conduct assembly elections in Bihar later this year and in a bunch of states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Assam next summer.

"I feel deeply honoured on being entrusted with this assignment. Election Commission of India is an institution in which the nation places a great trust. It would be my utmost endeavour to prove myself worthy of this trust," Quraishi told PTI reacting to his appointment.

A 1971-batch IAS officer, Quraishi entered the Commission in June 2006 after 35 years in the civil service in both the Centre and state levels. Prior to joining the Commission, he was Secretary in the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry at the Centre.

He had held several key positions in the government and made special contribution in the area of social sector reforms covering health, education, population, drug abuse and civil society action.

Quraishi said during the last four years as Election Commissioner, he was proud to be part of one of the august institutions that the framers of the Constitution have gifted to the country while insulating it from all possible pressures.

"The judiciary, especially the Supreme Court also has zealously guarded the Election Commission against any assault on its autonomy and independence and ensured that it grows from strength to strength.

He said elections in India were known not only for their scale, but also for their credibility.

"I realise the responsibility that the Election Commission carries towards keeping India's democracy firmly on the rails. I have abiding faith that the Commission will continue to deliver on its mandate, in the face of all challenges old and new, as it has always done in the past," he added.