Centre Introduces Bill Laying Down Procedure For Selecting Election Commissioners
The Central Government has introduced a Bill that outlines the procedure for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.
According to this Bill, the President will appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners based on recommendations from a Selection Committee. This Committee will be chaired by the Prime Minister and include the Leader of Opposition in the House of the People and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. The Bill, named the "Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023," is being presented in the Rajya Sabha by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal today.
In March of this year, the Supreme Court's Constitution Bench ruled that until Parliament establishes a law outlining the selection process, a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India would select the Election Commissioners. This ruling aimed to ensure the independence of the Election Commissioners.
The Bench, led by Justice KM Joseph, emphasised that there is currently no Parliamentary law in place, as specified in Article 324(2) of the Constitution, which defines the selection procedure for Election Commissioners. The Bill's objective is to have the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners appointed through a committee chaired by the Prime Minister.
