WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1993
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BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL.
AN INDEPENDENT THREE-MEMBER COMMISSION WILL BE SET UP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES AND OVERSEE THE CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
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THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL, TO BE PUBLISHED THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE THIS FRIDAY, SETS OUT THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION, ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND THE CRITERIA WHICH THE COMMISSION HAS TO FOLLOW IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE IMPARTIALITY OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS WOULD BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS COMMISSION, WHICH WAS ONK OF THE SEVEN MAIN CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY THE GOVERNOR.
THE INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY OF THE COMMISSION WILL BR ACHIEVED THROUGH THE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS WELL AS IN THE MAKING OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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"ALL MEMBERS ARE TO BE POLITICALLY NEUTRAL PERSONS AND APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, ONE OF WHOM WILL BE NOMINATED BY THE ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TO ENHANCE THE NEUTRALITY OF THE COMMISSION, THE CHAIRMAN WILL BE A HIGH COURT JUDGE. HE SAID.
THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON CONSTITUENCY WILL HAVE REGARD TO PRESENTATION FROM THE PUBLIC.
BOUNDARIES
THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THEY ARE REPORTED TO THE GOVERNOR.
THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SCRUTINISE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION ON THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL'S DECISION RELATING TO CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES.
THE COMMISSION WILL ВЕ GIVEN STATUTORY POWERS REGULATIONS RELATING TO ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS AND PROCEDURES. APPOINT RETURNING OFFICERS FOR CONDUCTING THE ELECTIONS.
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THE COMMISSION WILL. PERFORM ITS FUNCTIONS THROUGH A CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND SERVICED BY THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE, WHICH WILL BE STRENGTHENED FOR THE PURPOSE.
BOTH THE CHIEF ELECTORAL, OFFICER AND THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE WILL REMAIN WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
THE COMMISSION WILL BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW STATUTORY CRITERIA IN MAKING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS ON CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES.
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