To
Shri Sushil Chandra
Chief Election Commissioner
Shri Rajiv Kumar
Election Commissioner
Shri A C Pandey
Election Commissioner
Dear S/Shri Sushil Chandra, Rajiv Kumar and Pandey,
A Press release by PMO on November 18, 2021 (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1772883) indicates that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister will be holding the 56th All India DGP Conference at Lucknow during 20th and 21st this month. Apparently, the conference is about to start shortly.
While such DGP conferences are held annually and for the last few years, they have been held at different places outside Delhi by rotation, I feel that holding such a conference in a poll-bound State at this moment may not be a desirable practice from the point of view of conducting coming elections in a fair manner.
As Covid situation in India continues to be uncertain with the majority of the adults not fully vaccinated with two doses, it is necessary that there is 100% compliance with the directive issued by the Home Ministry vide
https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/MHAOrderdt_28092021.pdf-.To hold large gathrings at a time like this may not set a good example to the citizens who are being asked repeatedly to conform strictly to Covid-appropriate behaviour. Moreover, the wounds left by the second wave of Covid are still fresh in our memory and the possibility of a third wave setting in has not been ruled out. It may be recalled that a similar conference last year was held virtually, to avoid a large number of officers gathering at a place physically. It is therefore not quite reasonable to hold the 56th DGP meet physically.
While I appreciate that the ECI can intervene in such matters only when the Model Code of Conduct is in force, from the point of view of ensuring the fairness of elections, which lies within the Commission’s mandate, I feel that it can issue a strong advisory in which it expresses its apprehension on this. In such matters, ECI cannot assume a passive role as its main concern is to ensure that nothing directly or indirectly affects the integrity of the election process.
May I therefore request you to release at least a statement expressing the Commission’s concern in this matter?
Regards,
Yours sincerely,
E A S Sarma
Former Secretary to GOI
Visakhapatnam
