Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, August 10: A new bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha today which seeks appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners by a three-member panel made up of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Cabinet Minister.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 to “regulate the appointment, conditions of service and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, the procedure for transaction of business by the Election Commission and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.
The Supreme Court had ruled in March that appointments to the Election body would be made on the recommendation of a committee made up of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India in an effort to ensure the independence of the election body. In a unanimous decision, a five-judge constitution bench led by Justice KM Joseph ruled that the selection process would continue until parliament drafted a law on it.
“An Election Commission that does not guarantee the rule of law is against democracy. In its wide spectrum of powers, if exercised illegally or unconstitutionally, it has an effect on the outcomes of political parties. The Election Commission has to be independent; it cannot claim to be independent and then act in an unfair manner. A person in a state of obligation to the state cannot have an independent frame of mind. An independent person will not be servile to those in power,” Justice Joseph had stated.
Before the Supreme Court’s decision, the President would choose election commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner based on the government’s recommendations.
Subsequently, the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 was presented in the Rajya Sabha today.
Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he was “weakening Indian democracy through decision after decision”. In a tweet, Kejriwal described the scenario as “very dangerous” and stated that “two BJP and one Congress member” will be on the proposed selection panel. The Aam Aadmi Party leader declared, “Obviously, the chosen election commissioner will be loyal to the BJP.”
प्रधान मंत्री जी द्वारा प्रस्तावित चुनाव आयुक्तों की चयन कमेटी में दो बीजेपी के सदस्य होंगे और एक कांग्रेस का। ज़ाहिर है कि जो चुनाव आयुक्त चुने जायेंगे, वो बीजेपी के वफ़ादार होंगे https://t.co/Pfwj6gR9A7
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 10, 2023
The Congress also slammed the new Bill, calling it a “blatant attempt at making the Election Commission a total puppet in the hands of the PM”.
“What about the Supreme Court’s existing ruling which requires an impartial panel? Why does the PM feel the need to appoint a biased Election Commissioner? This is an unconstitutional, arbitrary and unfair Bill – we will oppose this on every forum,” senior Congress leader KC Venugopal tweeted.
Blatant attempt at making the Election Commission a total puppet in the hands of the PM.
What about the Supreme Court’s existing ruling which requires an impartial panel?
Why does the PM feel the need to appoint a biased Election Commissioner?
This is an unconstitutional,… https://t.co/injuEBXdQx
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) August 10, 2023
