Law Enacted As Per SC Decision: Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal On CEC Bill

Central Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Friday stated that the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Bill, 2023, has been introduced in Parliament in accordance with the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Meghwal stated, “The Supreme Court pronounced a decision in this regard, and therefore, we have brought the law as per the Supreme Court’s judgment. In the new bill, we are forming a search committee, led by the Cabinet Secretary. After that, there will be a selection committee led by the Prime Minister. What is wrong with this?”

Earlier on August 10, a bill was presented in the Rajya Sabha to regularize the appointment, terms of service, and tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Opposition parties had vehemently opposed presenting it.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Conditions of Service and Tenure) Bill, 2023. This bill is also related to the process of commercial transactions by the Election Commission.

The bill proposes that the appointment of Election Commissioners shall be recommended by a panel of a Central Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister, leaders of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India, and the Prime Minister will chair this panel.

If this bill comes into effect, it will override the March 2023 verdict of the Supreme Court which stated that the appointment of Election Commissioners shall be recommended by a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, leaders of the opposition, and the Chief Justice of India.

However, the apex court had noted in its judgment that its outlined process will remain applicable until the law is formulated by Parliament.

The proposed bill has elicited strong reactions from opposition parties. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal stated that the intention behind the bill is to make the Election Commission a ‘puppet in the hands of the Prime Minister.’