Removing a Chief Election Commissioner is hard; holding one to account should not be. India’s election referee must be independent, yet independence cannot mean freedom from scrutiny
The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on whether challenges to the 2023 law governing CEC and EC appointments should go before a Constitution Bench. Justice Dipankar Datta rejected the reference, while Justice Satish Chandra Sharma favoured it, sending the matter to CJI Surya Kant
The Election Commission rejected a report alleging two Election Commissioners recorded dissent over poll panel decisions. The Indian Express reported objections by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on several matters, while the ECI maintained that decisions, including SIR, were unanimous.
The Centre defended the 2023 law governing appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, telling the Supreme Court it was wrong to presume the Prime Minister-led selection panel would act in bad faith. The court reserved its verdict on referring the matter to a larger Bench
The poll panel also dubbed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's allegations as an attempt to "surreptitiously give credence to irresponsible, unfounded and uncorroborated mala fide narratives".
Observing that the Election Commission is not under the "thumb of executive", the apex court also refused to grant any interim stay on the operation of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Terms of Office) Act, 2023.
The selection panel is chaired by the prime minister and has as members one Union minister as nominated by the government and the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.
Arvind Kejriwal slammed the Centre for reportedly proposing a bill through which the committee to select the Election Commissioners will consist of the Prime Minister, Opposition leaders, and nominated Central government ministers.
A vacancy will arise in the poll panel early next year when Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey demits office on February 14 on attaining the age of 65 years.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, CPI State secretary Kunamneni Sambasivarao said that the Centre had shown unwanted enthusiasm in appointing Arun Goel as an Election Commissioner.
