JPC to Convene Key Meeting on ‘One Nation, One Election’ on April 22

Justice Hemant Gupta, Justice SN Jha, Justice BS Chauhan, and Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi to present views in a full-day session; JPC to gather nationwide inputs via state visits and new digital platform.

📍 New Delhi | April 21, 2025

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the ambitious electoral reform initiative ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) will hold a pivotal meeting on April 22, scheduled from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with key legal and political experts slated to share their views.

The full-day session will include interactions with:

Justice Hemant Gupta (Former Supreme Court Judge)
Justice SN Jha (Former Chief Justice, Jammu & Kashmir High Court)
Dr. Justice BS Chauhan (Former SC Judge & Chair, 21st Law Commission)
Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi (Senior Advocate & Rajya Sabha MP)

🖥️ Website, Public Feedback, and Nationwide Outreach

JPC Chairperson PP Chaudhary announced plans to soon launch an official website with QR code functionality, allowing stakeholders to submit suggestions online. He added that advertisements will be issued in multiple languages to ensure inclusivity.

“We want voices from across the country. The website is being developed with safeguards to avoid crashes and will soon be live for public engagement,” said Chaudhary.

The committee will also undertake a state-wise tour to collect feedback:

Maharashtra – April
Uttarakhand – May
Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana) – June

🔁 Rationale Behind ONOE

PP Chaudhary emphasized that frequent elections slow down development and governance.

“Elections happen every 5-6 months somewhere. If the ONOE model is adopted, Viksit Bharat can be achieved even before 2047,” he said.

The Union Government has proposed synchronizing Panchayat, Municipality, Lok Sabha, and Vidhan Sabha polls, with a 100-day completion target.

🧠 Expert Opinions So Far

During the March 25 meeting:

Justice DN Patel (Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court) called ONOE a “desirable reform”, noting it could cut costs, reduce logistical pressure, and enhance governance.
He clarified that the proposal does not violate federal principles or the Constitution’s basic structure.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani supported the proposal, highlighting its potential for efficiency and constitutional compatibility.
He emphasized clearer definition of the Election Commission’s powers and rejected concerns about violating democratic values or federalism.

However, MPs expressed concern about:

Addressing both national and regional issues in a single election
Ensuring representation for regional parties
Clarity on term curtailment of assemblies

📌 Tags:

One Nation One Election, JPC Meeting, PP Chaudhary, Justice Hemant Gupta, Justice SN Jha, Justice BS Chauhan, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Attorney General R Venkataramani, Election Reform, Lok Sabha, State Elections, Indian Constitution, Electoral Synchronization

News Desk