The Election Commission has decided to withdraw its proposal for setting up an autonomous body for imparting electoral training to professionals within and outside the country as it gives “no additional benefit”.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, while noting the government’s support to India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIDEM), said that the proposal for establishing an independent autonomous society for it be withdrawn.
“...The Commission has decided to request the Government to treat the Commission’s proposal for creation of an autonomous society for IIDEM as withdrawn,” Mr. Quraishi said in his letter.
He said that the EC had taken a fresh look at its proposal to register IIDEM as a ‘society’ under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 after recent consultations with Department of Expenditure and feedback from Ministry of Law and Justice.
“...The Commission has considered that there is no additional benefit, rather there is a potential for operational constraints for the fledgling institute if it is made into a society,” the CEC said.
The proposed setting up of IIDEM as an independent autonomous body had raked up a controversy, with Law Minister Salman Khurshid, who had opposed it, and Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi involved in a face-off on the issue.
Mr. Khurshid had earlier shot down a proposal of the poll panel to grant independent status to the IIDEM and Mr. Quraishi had taken strong objection to the rejection by the Law Ministry.
