The Hindu Business Line : Vicious attack

IT IS doubtful whether in all the history of vituperative venting of spleen by politicians against persons holding public offices, there had been anything so venomous as the abuses flung at the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr T. S. Krishnamurthy by the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. It is nobody's case that Constitutional authorities, including the High Courts and the Supreme Court, are above legitimate criticism. But when it degenerates into imputing of motives or vicious personal attacks, it crosses all bounds of decency and decorum.

It becomes all the more objectionable when there is no effort to understand the reason for the action or decision to which exception is taken. Such an attack becomes utterly indefensible especially when the person attacked cannot reply in kind.

Even allowing for the unbearable tensions and pressures operating on politicians at election time, Mr Chautala's singling out Mr Krishnamurthy for his reported remarks ("mentally disturbed...underwent no medical check... only good at counting money") are inexcusable.

That said, the Election Commissioners need also introspect on whether there is anything in the way they function that invites such outbursts from politicians under stress. Transparency is a sine qua non for all Constitutional authorities.

It means that they should not be abrupt or peremptory in handing down their decisions, but patiently and convincingly explain the grounds in a media conference or through a media note.

Also, it is a safe rule for them to adhere to a programme or timetable already announced. They must remember that elections are (political) life-and-death struggles for politicians and, understandably, any deviation in the publicly announced schedule causes upset and suspicion.

Mr Chautala's barb about incumbents eyeing "lucrative Rajya Sabha seats" as a quid pro quo for favouring the ruling party needs to be taken to heart not only by the Election Commissioners, but by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, Chairmen of the Public Service Commissions, the Central Vigilance Commissioners and the judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court. Far too many of them — with the latest being Dr M. S. Gill, the former CEC — have swerved from rectitude by accepting favours from political parties in the past.

B. S. Raghavan

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