Law Ministry cannot control EC: Quraishi

May 07, 2012 23:33

Against the backdrop of the recent controversy between the Election Commission and the Law ministry over the latter claiming control over it, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi today made it clear that this cannot happen as EC is a Constitutionally independent body.

Describing the Law Ministry as a nodal body, he said there is no way Government can think of controlling the EC.

"It is only a nodal ministry. The Law ministry is also a nodal ministry for the Supreme Court. But if they think of controlling the Supreme Court or even the Election Commission...No Way. That cannot happen," he said at a function here.

He said there is "tendency of a government to try and control institutions which they can...The Constitution has made it (EC) a very independent institution."

Quraishi's comments come days after the spat between him and Law Minister Salman Khurshid after the latter's claimed his ministry had "control" over the EC.

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