Has there been any change in the functioning of the EC from when you were in charge?
Not really, by and large the EC is still the same body, with the same powers, but each incumbent has a different style of functioning.
Is there political pressure on the EC’s functioning? If yes, how did you handle it?
There are always political groups that come and present their opinions. But all we can do is to accommodate what they say and their point of views. But it does not affect the way the EC works.
A lot of liquor and black money was seized in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh during last year’s General Elections.
Civil groups claimed most of the cash was returned to the people who were caught with it, and that the EC does not do enough to contain the problem. Your take?
When cash is seized, the first thing is to ascertain whether it is related to the elections. Black money itself is illegal, but when it is not related to elections, the Income Tax Department will take care of the matter. It has to be an electoral offence.
Another complaint is that seldom is action is taken against offenders who break the moral code of conduct.
When someone does break the code of conduct, a First Information Report (FIR) is registered. Once it becomes a judicial matter, it will take its own time to be dealt with.
Black money itself is illegal, but when it is not related to elections, the Income Tax Department will take care of the matter.
