Supreme Court

SC Declines to Stay Implementation of New Law on CEC & ECs Appointment

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to stay the recently enacted law that provides for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners through a panel excluding the Chief Justice of India.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, however, agreed to assess a series of petitions challenging the new law and issued a notice to the Centre.

The bench asked senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Congress leader Jaya Thakur, who sought a stay on the new law, to serve a copy of the petition to the Centre’s counsel. Singh urged the court to stay the law, asserting that it goes against the principle of separation of powers. The bench, in response, stated, “No, without hearing the other side, we can’t. We will issue a notice.”

Several petitions, including Thakur’s, have been filed in the apex court amidst a political controversy surrounding the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from a panel responsible for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

Advocate Gopal Singh has also approached the top court, seeking the annulment of the new law that grants significant powers to the central government in making appointments to the election body. Singh’s plea urges the apex court to direct the implementation of an “independent and transparent system of selection, constituting a neutral and independent selection committee for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners (CEC and ECs).”

As per the provisions of the new law, the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners will be appointed by the President based on the recommendation of a Selection Committee, consisting of the Prime Minister as the Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the House of the People as a Member, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister as a Member.

The opposition has accused the Modi government of disregarding the Supreme Court by excluding the CJI from the selection panel. In a March 2023 order, the Supreme Court had specified that the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the CJI would collectively choose the CEC and the ECs.

Nunnem Gangte

Recent Posts

2013 Rape Case: SC Notices Gujarat Govt On Asaram’s Plea Seeking Sentence Suspension

The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Gujarat government regarding self-styled godman…

5 minutes ago

SC Issues Notice On Manish Sisodia Plea Seeking Relaxation Of Bail Conditions

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement…

36 minutes ago

SC Stays Disqualification Of 6 CPS In HP Govt

The Supreme Court on Friday temporarily halted the disqualification process of 6 Chief Parliamentary Secretaries…

56 minutes ago

A.R. Rahman, Saira Banu’s Lawyer Vandana Shah Reveals Reasons For Divorce

Renowned music composer A.R. Rahman and his wife, Saira Banu, recently announced their separation after…

1 hour ago

SC To Decide On Transfer Of Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath Disputes To Allahabad HC

The Supreme Court on Friday is examining a plea seeking to transfer 15 pending cases…

1 hour ago

Rajasthan HC Quashes SC/ST Case Against Actress Shilpa Shetty

The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday quashed a complaint filed under the SC/ST (Prevention of…

21 hours ago