Chief Secretary's told to ensure that no info about voter support to political parties is collected

Told To Ensure That No Info About Voter Support To Political Parties Is Collected
Preetu Nair, TNN


PANAJI: The Central home department has sent a circular to chief secretaries of all states and union territories asking them to ensure that the
state police and intelligence authorities don't collect data regarding electoral
support to political parties at the village level. The Election Commission has termed such activities of the police department as "extra jurisdictional".

Government sources said that the home secretary, government of India, had sent the circular almost a fortnight back to chief secretaries after the Election Commission objected to the "collection of data in respect of electoral support to political parties at the grassroots level, including the support commanded by anti-socials and mafia" during the elections by the state police and intelligence authorities.

Special home secretary Diwan Chand confirmed the receipt of the letter. "We have received a letter from the home secretary and it has been sent to the director general of police for necessary action." SP (Special branch) who is also the PRO, Atmaram V Deshpande, confirmed having received the circular. Saying that "it is an internal communication", he refused to comment any further.

The circular notes that the EC has observed that using the police and intelligence authorities to collect information from grassroots is a misuse of government machinery and "by no stretch can be treated as part of the duties and responsibilities of the police department".The circular also states that the EC has asked that necessary systems be put in place to ensure that "such extra-jurisdictional activities of the police department" are kept in check and don't occur.

Sources said that the EC had intimated the home ministry about certain communications in a particular state directing the police and intelligence authorities in that state to collect data in respect of electoral support to political parties at the grassroots level, including the support commanded by anti-socials and mafia. However, the name of the state which had issued such directions is not mentioned in the letter.

The submission of regular political inputs to the ruling party, due to which they have an edge over their political rivals, is common even in Goa. However government sources discarded such a possibility saying, "There is no direction from the state government to collect information about electoral support to political parties at grassroots."

9 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition