“Legislation brought according to decision of SC”: Union Law Minister Meghwal on CEC appointment bill

New Delhi [India]: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Friday said that the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, has been brought in the Parliament according to the decision of the Supreme Court.

“Supreme Court had given a decision in this regard.So we brought the law according to the decision of the Supreme Court. In the new Bill, we are forming a Search committee, which will be led by the Cabinet Secretary.After that, there will be a Selection committee, which will be led by the Prime Minister. What is wrong with that?,” Meghwal said.

Earlier on August 10, a Bill to regulate the appointment, conditions of service, and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, with opposition parties strongly opposing its introduction.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. The Bill also deals with procedure for transaction of business by the Election Commission.

The Bill proposes that the Election Commissioners will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will chair the panel.

The Bill, if it comes into effect, will negate the Supreme Court’s March 2023 judgment that held that the appointment of Election Commissioners will be done by the President on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India.

However, in its judgement, the apex court had held that the procedure underlined by it would hold till a law is enacted by Parliament.

The proposed bill has evoked a sharp reaction from opposition parties. Congress leader KC Venugopal said the bill aims to make Election Commission a ‘puppet in hands of Prime Minister’.

“A blatant attempt to make the Election Commission a total puppet in the hands of the Prime Minister,” he said.