Thursday, May 11 2006 11:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In a strong indictment of HRD Minister Arjun Singh for his remarks on reservation in elite educational institutions, the Election Commission yesterday (May 10, 2006)night said he had not acted with a sense of higher responsibility but refrained from holding him violating the model code of conduct for lack of conclusive evidence.

In a five-page ruling, the EC said in the upholding of the model code of conduct, the party and persons in power have higher responsibility and they are expected not only to uphold it but should also be perceived to be so doing. In the instant case, the Commission has come to the sad conclusion that they cannot be perceived to have done so".

The EC, however, suggested there was no 'conclusive proof' against Singh of having violated the model code of conduct.

The Commission is aware that circumstantial evidence, however good, cannot completely substitute for conclusive proof", the poll watchdog said adding it therefore "Restrains itself from pronouncing an adverse finding of violation of model code of conduct by Arjun Singh".

Singh's remarks to the media on reservation on April five in the midst of elections in five states had sparked a countrywide debate on the issue and the EC issued him notice to him as well as the Centre seeking an explanation from both.

Arjun Singh and the Centre replied to the EC notices and the HRD Minister himself appeared in person before the Commission in connection with his remarks.

Singh had denied having violated the model code of conduct and said the decision to amend the Constitution for advancement of OBCs in matters of admission to elite educational institutions was a near unanimous decision of all political parties in Parliament and it did not give undue advantage to the ruling party.

The EC's ruling tonight said "it would be a case of credulity stretched to its breaking point if one were to attribute all that was reported in the media to nothing which was said to them but to merely a figment of their imagination".

"May be Shri Arjun Singh did not specifically mention any percentage of seats to be reserved for the OBCs but it cannot be gainsaid that his statement, rather assurance on April five, 2006, that the reservations would be effective from the coming academic year did trigger a nationwide debate and agitation on a highly sensitive issue concerning the whole country including the people of the five states/union territory which were in the thick of elections then," it said.