Ravi Mohan, a Delhi-based advocate and social worker, has moved the Delhi high court against the alleged casteist remarks made by Election Commissioners B B Tandon and N Gopalaswamy against Bihar's Yadav community.
Mohan has also asked the court to stay the swearing in of B B Tandon as the Chief Election Commissioner on May 15, when T S Krishna Murthy retires as CEC.
Speaking to rediff.com, Ravi Prakash Gupta, who is representing Ravi Mohan, said that the whole idea behind moving the petition was that people who hold high office of EC should not only be fair and impartial, but should prove it by their actions.
"We have moved the Delhi high court against the two ECs on the ground that a senior Indian Administrative Service officer L V Saptarishi has not only made allegations verbally, but in writing. We are seeking the postponement of the swearing in ceremony of B B Tandon on May 15 as CEC till he is cleared of the charges made against him," Gupta said.
The President of India, the cabinet secretary, T S Krishna Murthy, B B Tandon and N Gopalaswamy have been made respondents in the case.
The petitioner will press for an early hearing on the matter as the swearing in ceremony for B B Tandon is slated to take place on Sunday.
The petitioner's plea is that those holding the office of profit under the government should not be appointed to the Election Commission and that retired judges should be included for consideration.
