On Saturday (31st January), the Congress party said that, the government is seized of the recommendation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalaswami to remove Election Commissioner Navin Chawla. This removal recommendation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, has divided legal experts.

 

Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari told the media that, the president's office has confirmed of receiving a communication from the CEC. Tiwari also said that, the government is seized of the matter and would decide how to deal with it.

 

Mr Tiwari's comment followed a report published on Saturday (31st January). According to the report, Gopalaswami had suggested to the President that Chawla could be eased out of the Election Commission on grounds of being partisan.

 

However, Gopalaswami refused to discuss the subject, telling reporters that he had submitted a privileged document to the government. On the other hand a spokesperson for the Rashtrapati Bhavan said the communication was received last week.

 

Gopalaswami's reported decision has sparked a storm in legal circles because of its timing as he is retiring on April 20 and the next Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held in April-May.