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.
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