New Delhi (15.03.21): Goa CS Parimal Rai (IAS:1985:UT) has become the butt of criticism following the Supreme Court terming the state government's move to give its law secretary the additional charge of the state election commission a "mockery" of constitutional mandate.

Canceling the appointment of IAS officer and law secretary Chokha Ram Garg as the state election commissioner, the Court ruled that state election commissioners have to be "independent persons" not occupying a post under the Centre or state governments.

The Goa government's innovative approach to packing the SEC with a serving officer may also open a can of worms because the three-judge bench, headed by Justice R F Nariman and including Justices BR Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy, also issued directions to all states and Union territories to cancel such appointments, if existed, and appoint only "independent persons to this high constitutional office."

The above observations and directions of the SC were contained in the 96-page judgment, penned by Justice Nariman, on a batch of pleas relating to the urban local body polls in Goa. 

Following the SC judgment, all civil society groups have taken the state bureaucracy to task for doing things that are patently illegal and unconstitutional. As the head of the civil administration, the CS has become the most visible and favorite kicking ball.