The Election Commission, on Tuesday, turned down the request of opposition presidential candidate P.A. Sangma for the re-scrutiny of UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee’s nomination citing the ‘office of profit’ issue.
The Election Commission quoted verdicts of the Supreme Court relating to the presidential poll and said: “..Article 71(1) of the Constitution makes an unambiguous stipulation that all doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with an election to the Office of the President shall be inquired into and decided by the Hon'ble Supreme Court”.
On Mr Sangma’s assertion that the Commission had taken remedial steps under Article 324 on certain occasions, the EC’s order said: “As you know, the law is well settled that the EC may act under Article 324 in a vacuous area where either the law is silent or makes insufficient provision to deal with a situation arising out of or in connection with an election”.
Not satisfied with the EC’s order, sources in the Sangma camp said they were examining whether Supreme Court could be approached at this stage challenging Mr Mukherjee’s nomination.
