The Hindu Business Line : <I>Election observers </I>

Election observers play a crucial, and even, as Mr K. J. Rao demonstrated in Bihar, a decisive, role in ensuring that elections will be, and are being, held in the fairest and freest manner possible, and in nipping attempted malpractices in the bud. Theirs is an extremely sensitive assignment in the sense that given the surcharged atmosphere of elections, and the nature of politics which often descends to mean levels, their every move is minutely watched. This makes it incumbent on them to conduct themselves with scrupulous and manifest rectitude, so that their behaviour is above the slightest reproach.

Regrettably, some of the officials, mostly belonging to the IAS, selected as observers, instead of setting an example in attending to their duties in the strictest manner expected of them, tend to run wild. During the last Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, three election observers behaved as if they had come on a picnic and are said to have run up unconscionable expenses by browbeating the poor underlings of the State government into arranging bashes in five-star hotels and visits to scenic spots.

In Bihar, in two districts, election observers and the collectors annoyingly, indulging in partying and drinking, drove the Chief Minister, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, to bring the matter to the notice of the Election Commission.

Some of the observers sent to keep an eye on the present election to the Tamil Nadu Assembly are also reportedly more given to living it up than single-mindedly concentrating on their duties.

Is the orientation given to them by the Election Commission (EC) deficient and action taken against the past delinquents not sufficiently deterrent? Besides addressing this lacuna, the EC should give wide publicity to the code of conduct it has drawn up for election observers so that this acts as a restraint on any deviant behaviour.

B. S. RAGHAVAN