New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed a Bill to establish a new mechanism for the appointment of Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners. Earlier, the Rajya Sabha had approved the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. Now that the legislation has cleared parliament, it will go to the President for her assent.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal argued in the Lok Sabha that the 1991 Act on the service conditions of top poll officers was a half-baked attempt and the present Bill covers the areas left out by the previous legislation. The Bill was then passed by a voice vote. The legislation underwent substantial changes following objections from various quarters. The Opposition has slammed the legislation, saying it would compromise the independence of the poll panel.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled that election commissioners must be appointed on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. The landmark judgment was aimed at insulating the top election body from political interference. The court, however, held that the judgment would hold good till the government came up with a law.
In the new legislation, the government replaced the Chief Justice with a Union Minister. The Opposition has alleged that this gives the government greater powers on the appointment of top poll officers and compromises the autonomy of the poll body.
Mumbai: Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, who was Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan’s co-star… Read More
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is all set to include over 3.5 crore people as beneficiaries… Read More
Srinagar: You may have heard of medical negligence before, but what happened in Kashmir recently is… Read More
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday distributed appointment letters to 6,390 new… Read More
Mumbai: Much talked-about star kids Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor's ‘Loveyapa’ was released in theatres… Read More
Bhubaneswar: Phonocon 2025, the 20th National Phono Surgery Conference, was inaugurated at KIMS here on… Read More
This website uses cookies.
