Electoral laws

 The happenings in Tamil Nadu once again underlines the need for changes in the electoral laws. While the parties are free to contest on their own or as alliance with other parties, no post poll alliances be recognised for forming the government

In TN , the DMK alliance,  AIADMK alliance and the TVK contested against each other and when the results came, all the three are short of the magic number of 118! And TVK seeks the support of Congress with 5 seats (who defeated TVK candidates), which is readily given! Isn't it a type of cheating the people who voted for the parties concerned? I feel so.

As regards the support letter called for by the governor, I am of the opinion that the governor should convene the assembly and ask those who stake claim to form the government, to prove the support on the floor, without allowing time for horsetrading and buying of elected members 

If nobody gets majority he should recommend for re elections.

Another point is regarding contesting elections from more than once constituency,  as done by Vijay. If the assembly is constituted,  he will have to vacate one seat where bye election has to be held, which will result in spending more public money (to satisfy the ego of a politician!) I am of the opinion that on such instance the total cost of bye election should be born by (recovered from) the person who causes the bye election. Otherwise it will be a mockery played on the people, I believe 

Election results

 All the states and union territory of pondicherry where elections will be over today, 29th April, will be knowing their rulers for the next 5 years. At this point, i would like to flag another ìssue related to the counting.

In the time of voting through manual ballot papers,  the final result of each constituencies used to be available at the earliest by the end of the day, as the manual counting of ballots from each ballot boxes, tallying them and collating them for final result were tedious jobs. With the introduction of evms , one expected that there would be considerable reduction in the time to get the final figures. At the most, the final count of each machine should be ready in five minutes at the press of a button and as such in the case of a constituency having 200 polling booths, the final result should come within a period of maximum two hours,  I feel. However, it is seen that even at this era of electronic machines, the final results are announced by evwwwning only. Will the election commission look into the matter and ensuree that all the results are declared positively before noon on 4th may?

Minority protection?

I am at a loss to understand the locus standi of government of India or organisations like VHP and Bajrangdal protesting against atrocities on minority Hindu personnel in Bangladesh. I can understand if the government is worried about security of Indian citizens staying in Bangladesh, but wonder how they should be worried about Hindus in the country. This, at a time when there are reports in the country about attacks on minority community people the latest being attack on carol party members in Kerala. If they do not ensure safety of minority community people in our own country , which is a secular state, what is the logic of registering protest against attack on Hindus in an Islamic country, I wonder! Has the VHP or Bajrangdal taken wholesale contract for Hindus around the world, one is forced to ask

The entrance examination noose

 Results of yet another edition of Kerala entrance examinations are out and celebrations galore at houses of the 'rank holders' and the coaching institutes. However, i wonder what is there to celebrate for securing top position in an entrance examination, which only entitles one for admission to a course of choice at an institute of choice. The real test lies in the next four or five years during  which period they have to show their mettle by continuously scoring good marks in all papers and come out with flying colors as a successful doctor or engineer. However,  I have not come across any reports/surveys by anybody to show where these rankholders reach after the study is over. I would like to urge the coaching institutes to conduct such a survey and share the results to public.

Personally, I am of the opinion that there is nothing to celebrate in achieving the top position in the entrance exam at all. And there is no reason for the coaching institutes too to celebrate 'producing' the top rankers. Anybody who can mug up the materials and reproduce it in the OMR sheets can easily clear the test. It is here the role of the institutes come in. What they actually do is conduct innumerable practice tests using questions from the previous exams. They keep on continuing the practice tests till the students can jump to the correct option the moment they see the question, without actually knowing how the problem had been solved or how the answer has been arrived at!

I am afraid this is a dangerous situation which leaves the students under pressure once the actual course starts. It is high time the people who matters gave a serious thought to the issue and find out a viable alternative for the entire admission process.

Recusal by judges

 Came across a report "Justice Bechu Kurian recuses from hearing Church cases" 

It is observed that such recusals by the judges occur at the last minute thereby delaying the hearing in the cases further. Will it not be advisable to obtain the concurrence of the judges concerned before allocating cases (at least the sensational ones) to them? And, I wonder why the judge(s) choose to recuse from a case allocated to him, whatever be the reason, unless there is a personal interest in the issues involved. Aren't the judges duty bound to hear and deliver judgement in cases allotted to them? If the cases are to be handled by the judges based on religion etc., it will lead to a wrong precedent,  I am afraid

Suspension of IAS officers

 

Today's flash news in media is the suspension of two IAS officers in kerala, as if they have been punished! Suspension is.only keeping the officials away from the official records to avoid possible manipulations! They get paid 50% of the emoluments during this period, for not working! After the departmental enquiry to be initiated,  the disciplinary authority has to decide whether the officials had erred and whether punishment needed to be awarded! By all probability they would.be reinstated with a warning, treating the period of suspension as service enabling them to draw full salary for the period they did not do any work! The media do not report these facts correctly, I feel

Postponing elections

 While it is welcome that the Election Commission (EC) has decided to postpone the by elections in 14 constituencies responding to representations, the timing of the postponement declaration might draw the ECI to judicial scrutiny, I am afraid. While no political parties may challenge the decision, postponing the declared election date after the last date for filing the nominations has created a peculiar situation that needs to be scrutinized by the judiciary. As per the original schedule the polling has to take place within 14 days from the last date of filing nominations and the model code of conduct would be in effect till the poll date. By deferring the poll date by a week after more.than a week from last date for filing nominations has given one extra week for the candidates for campaigning. Also the period of model code of conduct has been extended by a week to the detriment of the interest of the constituency. The extended period of campaigning may be a boon for those with resources, it may be a bane for the independents and candidates of smaller parties. If any of them challenge the decision, the court may annul the process requiring a fresh notification and process, I am afraid