Former bureaucrats, including chief election commissioners, have spoken out against Union law minister Kiren Rijiju’s remarks that appeared to prioritise “coordination” with the Centre over “independence” of the Election Commission of India (EC) and the judiciary.

“Absolutely shocking statement from the Honourable Law Minister. He wants to take EC to pre-Seshan era when the Commission was treated like a section of the Law ministry. CEC sought permission of the ministry to buy a book costing 25 rupees as noted by Mr Seshan,” former chief election commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi tweeted on Wednesday.

At a National Voters’ Day event on Tuesday, Rijiju had said: “In the name of the independence of judiciary, independence of election commission, independence of legislature and the executive, if there is no coordination then how will we work, how will we run the country? It is important for us to have good coordination but we won’t interfere.”

He praised the EC for coordinating with his ministry on the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that allows the linking of the Aadhaar database to the voter list, which the Opposition claims will disenfranchise genuine voters.

“If the court says anything about the EC, they can, it is the court’s right. But judges will have to think of what language they are using… The steps and those elements whichever try to discredit the Election Commission of India are actually trying to discredit the democratic process of our country,” Rijiju had said.

In April, last year, Madras High Court had observed that EC officials should face “murder charges” for conducting polls in five states during the pandemic.

Former CEC O.P. Rawat told The Telegraph: “I think it is a matter of linguistic semantics. The minister is right in his example of Madras High Court’s comment, but he may invite criticism if he seeks coordination over independence of constitutional authorities.”

However, former CEC T.S. Krishna Murthy told this paper: “Coordination is absolutely essential but the coordination is for a particular goal — free and fair elections. If the coordination is not for free and fair elections; if there is coordination with a view to jeopardising the elections, then it does not mean anything.”

The EC has drawn flak for its inaction on the alleged invocation of the armed forces by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during poll campaigns ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The Commission has also come under fire for its lack of action against the alleged violations of Covid-19 norms by Union home minister Amit Shah in the ongoing campaigns for Uttar Pradesh elections although Opposition campaigners such as Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party have faced action.

Retired Maharashtra IAS officer V. Ramani tweeted: “Disturbing statements from a Law Minister... what about the independence of constitutional bodies?”

Former Union culture secretary Jawhar Sircar, who is currently a Trinamul MP, tweeted: “Dangerous to hear Law/Judicial minister tell Judiciary & Election Commission to “cooperate” not try to assert “independence”. What inane retainers must realise is that Constitution demands “independence” to check Modicarcy — autocracy by incompetence!”