Meeting with the President

12th August, 2002

Dear Friends

The appointment with the President is confirmed at 12.30hrs on 16th August 2002. The delegation is expected to arrive at the reception of Rashtrapati Bhavan via South Block and Cabinet Secretariat Office by 12 Noon. From there the delegates will be guided by Rashtrapati Bhavan officials.

Meanwhile we need to get the legal briefs ready latest by 13th August. We need not wait for the revised draft. Our appeal to President is to seek Supreme Court's opinion under Art 143, or to return the Bill/ Ordinance to both Houses under Art 111 or to return the Ordinance to the Council of Ministers for reconsideration. The ground for President's intervention is the patent unconstitutionality of Section 4 of the draft Bill (incorporating Section 33A in the Representation of the People Act, 1951),
prevent In addition, the legitimacy of promulgating an ordinance immediately after a month-long monsoon session concludes is highly questionable. Any Bill of such far-reaching implications, restricting the right of citizens to know, and aimed at nullifying the judgment of the Supreme Court must be at least discussed and debated in Parliament before it is considered by the President.

I request Ms. Kamini Jaiwsal and Sri Sanjay Parikh to help us by preparing a legal brief in support of President's action under Art 143 or Art 111. The team may please seek Justice Sachar's guidance in this.

In order to finalise the memorandum, fine tune arrangements, and discuss follow up action, a meeting is proposed with all the members of the delegation at 4 PM on 15th August at Centre for Media Studies.
    Address:        
    Centre for Media Studies (CMS)
    Research House,
    Community Centre, Saket (Behind Anupam Cinema)
    New Delhi - 110 017
    Tel 011-6851660,6864020, 6867348(D)
    Contact Person: Dr N Bhaskara Rao

I would greatly appreciate if you could make it convenient to participate in the meeting on 15th August at 4 PM. If any member has to dropout at the last minute, kindly do inform us latest by 13th August.  Rashtrapathi Bhavan wants the final list latest by 14th August. Please find enclosed a letter addressed to Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is self-explanatory, and also lists the composition of the delegation to meet the President

With warm regards,

Jayaprakash Narayan
National Coordinator

National Campaign for Electoral Reforms
August 12, 2002

Sri V.Ayyaswami
Private Secretary to the President of India
Rashtrapathi Bhavan
New Delhi

Dear Sri Ayyaswami ji,

Thank you for confirming  the appointment with the President for the delegation of National Campaign for Electoral Reforms at 12-30 hrs on 16th August. The following is the composition of the delegation:

Justice Rajendra Sachar, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and President, PUCL
Sri Kuldip Nayar MP
Sri LC Jain , former Member, Planning Commission
Ms Aruna Roy, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sanghatan
Sri R H Tahiliani, former Chief of Naval Staff,  President Trasnparency International
Dr Syed Shahid Mehdi, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Milia Islamia
Dr. N. Bhaskara Rao, Centre for Media Studies
Sri P.M.Tripathi, Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development
Prof.Manubhai Shah, President, Consumer Education and Research Centre
Ms.Kamini Jaiswal, Senior Advocate Supreme Court
Sri Sanjay Parikh, Advocate, Supreme Court, PUCL
Dr.Samuel Paul, President, Public Affairs Centre
Sri A.K.Venkata Subramanian, Catalyst Trust, Chennai
Dr.P.V.Shenoi, former Chairman, Agricultural Finance Corporation
Prof.K.C.Sivaramakrishnan, Nagarpalika Network
Dr.P.M.Bhargava, Scientist, Former Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
Gen.Vinod Saighal, Movement for Restoration of Good Government
Sri I.C.Dwivedi, Former Director General of Police, UP
Dr.S.D.Sharma, Lok Seva Sangh
Sri Jagadananda, CYSD, Bhubaneshwar
Ms.Tara Sinha, Communications Expert
Sri Sunil Handa, Association for Democratic Reforms
Dr.Trilochan Sastry, Association for Democratic Reforms
Sri Promod Chawla, Parivartan
Sri Sharad Kumar, Association for Good Governance Network in India
Sri Bhibhu Mahapatra, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, Lok Satta movement

Most of the delegates have confirmed their participation. Since distinguished citizens are traveling from all over the country, there may be a few last-minute changes. We will communicate to Rashtrapathi Bhavan the changes, if any, by 14th August latest. As advised by you, we are in touch with Col.D.L.Ahlawat to coordinate the arrangements. The members of the delegation will reach Rashtrapathi Bhavan reception via South Block and Cabinet Secretariat office by 12 Noon.

We thank you for your kindness  and courtesy.

With warm regards
 

Jayaprakash Narayan
National Coordinator