Modi government is preparing to bring this special bill in the special session of Parliament.
Parliament Special Session Live: The special session of Parliament is starting from Monday (September 18) in which the controversial bill related to the appointment of Election Commissioners (EC) can be discussed. Earlier on Sunday evening (17 September 2023), activists and civil society members raised questions on the autonomy of the election body if this law is passed.
The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, conditions of service and term of office) Bill, 2023, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the monsoon session. According to this proposal, the Selection Panel (CEC) for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission will include the Prime Minister as the Chairman, the Leader of the Opposition as a member and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister as the other member. Will be. In March, the Supreme Court had ruled that the selection panel should include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India (CJI). However, the top court had said that this process would be followed only until the Parliament makes a law.
Former CEC called the committee one-sided
Questions were once again raised in the meeting that by including a cabinet minister instead of the CJI, the government would gain control over the selection committee. At the same time, according to former CEC SY Qureshi, “A major negative aspect of the proposed bill is that the committee is one-sided and its aim seems to be to make all its decisions unanimous.”
Government will review the names
“This will in no way mean giving veto power to the leader of the opposition because there is a search committee headed by the cabinet secretary who shortlists the selection committee,” he said at a webinar organized by NGOs Satark Nagrik Sangathan and ANHAD. A list of names will be given and those names will be reviewed by the government,”
Called this bill unconstitutional
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan said that this law is unconstitutional and in his opinion it can be canceled by the Supreme Court. He further said, “It can be challenged on the grounds that it violates democracy”. He further said, “It was expected that the law made by the Parliament would be in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court.”
A lot can change later
On the other hand, political analyst Sanjay Kumar says that, this bill undoubtedly raises some concerns about the independence of the commission, but it is also a fact that before the Supreme Court’s decision, the government can essentially decide. Who should be appointed as CEC and EC.
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