Monday, January 17 2005 20:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Aiming to prevent malpractices by poll officials, the Supreme Court has suggested to Election Commission to post para-military personnel as well as install cameras inside polling booths "to keep an eye" on the staff conducting the elections.

These were among the many suggestions given by a Bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti, Justice G P Mathur and Justice A K Mathur in a recent judgement dismissing a petition challenging the election of RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) candidate Ram Das Rai to the Bihar Assembly in 2000 elections.

"We would like to suggest that the Election Commission should consider posting some personnel of para-military force inside the polling booth in addition to the law and order duty outside the polling booths," the Bench said.

"Some cameras should be installed in polling booths to keep a vigilance on the local staff on duty. It has come to our notice that sometimes local staff which is appointed to conduct election become party to the unfair and illegal practices," the Court observed.

It said the para-military staff outside the polling booth maintained law and order situation outside the venue, but what transpired inside the poling booth was beyond their reach.

"Therefore, the EC may consider some measures to appoint some of the personnel from para-military force to be deputed inside the polling booth so as to keep eye on local staff who are entrusted to conduct the election," the Bench said.

Justice A K Mathur, writing for the Bench, said that posting of para-military personnel inside the polling booths would have a sobering effect on the staff who would feel that they were under vigilance.

The apex Court said that it has also come to its notice that money which was allotted for the conduct of elections was being utilised for purposes other than the conduct of polls.

"The Election Commission should insist the State to utilise the amount made available for the conduct of election for no other purpose," it said.

The Bench also took serious note of the fact that some of the funds have also been utilised by the States for the entertainment of the election observers and felt that it would have serious impact on the impartiality of such observers.

"This should be taken care of by the Election Commission and strict instructions should be given to observers not to accept undue hospitality of States because that would unnecessarily compromise their objectivity and transparency," it said.

These suggestions to the Commission came in a judgement which dismissed a petition filed by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) candidate Janak Singh challenging the election of RJD candidate Ramakant Rai from Sararya Assembly constituency. Rai had defeated Singh by a margin of 265 votes.