Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], September 23 :  Former Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat on Wednesday termed the reported differences within the Election Commission over decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process as “very unfortunate” and said the matter should be resolved internally by the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
Reacting to an Indian Express report that stated two Election Commissioners had raised objections multiple times over decisions related to SIR and electoral roll procedures, Rawat told ANI that the Election Commission has a global reputation for conducting free, fair and credible elections.
"This is very unfortunate, and it should never happen because the Election Commission is such an institution that has a reputation worldwide for always delivering free, fair, and credible elections. Therefore, this dispute should be resolved by the Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner by sitting together immediately," Rawat said.
On concerns raised over the SIR process and notices issued to voters, Rawat said there had been procedural errors from the beginning, which had also come before courts. He said the Election Commission had gradually made improvements in the process.
"There have been errors in the procedure from the beginning. They have come to the court's attention as well. I have spoken about it, and the Election Commission has been making improvements. They improved it gradually," he said.
Rawat also referred to the decision of an Appellate Tribunal regarding West Bengal and said the Election Commission should take immediate action if issues were found in the process.
"But the decision made by the Appellate Tribunal regarding West Bengal, where 93 percent of those whom you deleted were voters and were deprived of voting, is criminal negligence. The Election Commission should take some action on this immediately, or the entire FIR procedure should be stopped," he said.
On reports of objections being raised 14 times in 10 months by Election Commissioners, Rawat said the three Commissioners should sit together and address the matter publicly.
"There is only one solution: all three Commissioners should sit together and hold a press conference. All the facts should be laid out. Everything will be clarified, and their image, which is being tarnished, will be saved from being further damaged," he said.
Rawat added that while political parties have the right to raise objections, the Election Commission must ensure that its procedures remain transparent and objective.
"It is the job of political parties to protest, file objections, and keep doing other things. But that is different. You have to keep your own procedure satisfactory, objective, and transparent, and ensure that injustice is not done to anyone," he said.