EC sticks to stand on Chennai Commssr's transfer

Chennai, Mar 22 (UNI) The Election Commission today stuck to its guns on its decision to transfer City Police Commissioner R Nataraj, as arguments on a batch of writ petitions challenging the order remained inconclusive in Madras High court.

When a bench comprising Mr Justice P K Mishra and Mr Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifulla resumed hearing, state Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta, filing the counter on behalf of the EC, justified its order transfering Mr Nataraj for his remarks on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, when the model code of conduct was in force.

Stating the transfer order was issued to ensure free and fair elections, he said any officer assigned the task of conducting polls and maintenance of law and order, was not entitled to express his/her personal views in the interest of purity of election.

While senior counsel Vijayanarayanan, appearing for former DGP Walter I Dawaram and Advocate General N R Chandran, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, argued that the EC had no power to order Mr Nataraj's transfer, Mr Shanti Bushan, senior counsel from the Supreme Court, appearing for Union Minster A Raja, who impleaded himself in the case, said the EC was fully justified in ordering the transfer.

The arguments remained inconclusive and would resume tomorrow.

Former DGP Lakshminarayanan also filed a petition, seeking to quash the order of the Election Commission.

UNI XR/WS AA RA RS2144