Bengaluru, May 17: Senior IAS officer Mohammed Mohsin transgressed his authority by ordering officials to search PM Narendra Modi's helicopter on April 16 in Odisha, the Election Commission told the Karnatakahigh court on Thursday.
The Karnataka cadre officer was deputed to Sambalpur constituency in Odisha on Lok Sabha election duty as a general observer.
In a petition filed before the high court, the commission said the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Bengaluru bench, failed to recognize the fact that Mohsin had, without authority, directed the executive magistrate to search the PM's helicopter, who is protected by SPG.
Th e commission, which has challenged the April 29 status quo order passed by the tribunal, stated the officer violated the instructions of the poll panel issued regarding SPG protectees.
It also claimed the interim order stalling disciplinary action against Mohsin has a pan-India effect as the elections are still going on and officers on poll duty may refuse to follow the EC's instructions. "Every officer appointed to oversee an election is deemed to be on deputation to the EC and the commission has control over such officer," the poll panel asserted.
A vacation division bench headed by Justice John Michael Cunha ordered notices to Mohsin, state and central governments and adjourned the hearing.
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