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Result versus procedure
Civil Servants, similarly, must follow the rules and procedures in force while performing their functions in any situations, no matter how challenging. This incident dates back to 1972. General elections were being held and I was Sub Collector at Ongole in Prakasham District, Andhra Pradesh. I was also the Returning Officer for Parchur Assembly Segment.
“Karman Eva Adhikaraste Maa Phaleshu Kadaachanaa” Says Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagvatgita – emphasizing the importance of doing one’s duty and not worrying about the result
Civil Servants, similarly, must follow the rules and procedures in force while performing their functions in any situations, no matter how challenging. This incident dates back to 1972. General elections were being held and I was Sub Collector at Ongole in Prakasham District, Andhra Pradesh. I was also the Returning Officer for Parchur Assembly Segment.
It was a tensely fought election marked by violent incidents. X of the ruling Congress-I party and another candidate Y were locked in a close contest. On the day of the counting, X was in hospital in Guntur town following injuries sustained in a clash. When the counting concluded, X trailed by 250 out of a total of about 50,000 thousand votes. He promptly requested for a recount as provided in the Electoral Law.
My immediate impulse would normally have been automatically agree to the request. But the situation called for a dispassionate to review of the procedure and arrangements that we followed during the counting: (Number of tables: 2 more than the required; number of counting assistants and supervisors - more than prescribed; agents of both parties present at every table and at the counting hall, RO (myself) and the Assistant Returning Officers did a good deal more than the prescribed percentage of checking, all disputed ballet papers duly settled as per procedure!
The ethical question to answer was not whether the result itself was accurate, but whether the result emerged from the procedure laid down and the prescribed precautions. The duty of the RO is to organize counting, not to count the votes! Feeling that what was enquired had been done the request for a recount referring to the procedures and precautions as listed above through a speaking order.
Mr. X challenged the result in the High Court, and subsequently a recount was ordered by the Court. Mr. X however polled less! And the as per the recount position I took good vindicated.
