Cabinet must decide Chawla's fate: Govt

New Delhi: The Centre on Monday justified the decision to refer to the Council of Ministers the decision of Navin P Chawla's removal.

In an affadavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Centre rejected demands that the issue be considered directly by the President.

The government said since the appointment of an Election Commissioner (EC) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was made by the President on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, their advice becomes relevant in their removal as well.

The Centre asserted that the President was not obliged to obtain the recommendations of the CEC on any representation for removal of an Election Commissioner.

"It would be inconceivable that in a Parliamentary democracy allegations or petitions seeking removal of an Election Commissioner would straightaway be considered by the CEC without being processed by the Executive Government," the Centre said in its affadavit.

The statement came in response to a PIL filed by BJP leader Jaswant Singh seeking Chawla's removal.

In his petition, Jaswant Singh had contended that the President should have referred the NDA representation for Chawla's removal to the Union Council of Ministers and that it should have been sent to the CEC for his recommendation as required under Article 324 (5).

The government also denied having consulted Attorney General Milon K Banerjee on the issue.

Earlier, in his affidavit Chawla had also contended that he could not be removed without the recommendation of the Union Cabinet.