State CEO released this morning

Mumbai, Mar 28 (UNI) State Chief Electoral Officer Nandlal was released this morning after spending over 12 hours in the Arthur Road Jail here.

He was arrested yesterday after the state assembly approved a two-day jail term for him for contempt of the state legislature.

The Assembly had approved the decision against Mr Nandlal for not presenting himself before the Privilege Committee despite being summoned repeatedly.

The two day's imprisonment was counted with one sunset as one day and one sunrise as the second day. According to Election Commission PRO, Mr Nandlal has been released and has left for his official residence. He is expected to visit his office this afternoon.

In an unprecedented move, Mr Nandlal was arrested after the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly approved the imprisonment for the senior-most bureaucrat for breach of privilege of the House.

The breach of privilege notice was served by Congress MLA Prof Janardan Chandurkar on March 27, 2006. The notice was given regarding the notification issued by Mr Nandlal for holding the internal elections of mayor, sarpanch, zilla parishads.

The notice contended that although the right to conduct local bodies elections rested with the State Election Commission, it was the State Government's right to conduct the internal elections, including election of mayors.

The Committee, a quasi-judicial authority, had asked him to come personally but he avoided till the last. Later, the Committee sought the opinion of Advocate General who said this was tantamount to a contempt of the House.

Following this, the Committee recommended that Nandlal should be sent to seven days simple imprisonment. However, later, Mr Deshmukh recommended that the punishment be reduced to two days simple imprisonment.

UNI JM GR VD AS1541