On Thursday, with a diminished Opposition presence, Lok Sabha approved a bill in opposition to a constitutional bench decision from March 2, which mandated the inclusion of the Chief Justice of India in the panel responsible for selecting election commissioners and their chief.
The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners(Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill substitutes the Chief Justice of India with ‘a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister’.
The additional two members of the selection committee will remain unchanged, aligning with the recommendations made by the five-judge Supreme Court bench in March — namely, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition (or leader of the single largest Opposition party).
This implies that the government will hold a 2:1 majority on the committee, granting it the ultimate authority in the appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Many perceive this development as a setback to the autonomy of the election panel, which the Supreme Court aimed to safeguard by including the Chief Justice of India in the selection process.
The Supreme Court’s ruling was in response to a series of petitions contesting the prevailing practice of the government independently appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners. Following the judgment, no appointments of EC or CEC have occurred, and adherence to the court’s instructions has eliminated the need for a selection panel. Additionally, the bill secured approval through a voice vote amid an extraordinary mass suspension of Opposition members. Nevertheless, during the bill’s discussion, Opposition members who were not suspended continued chanting slogans.
The Rajya Sabha has already endorsed the bill. Following the security lapse incident at the Parliament on December 13, the opposition has raised a strong voice in both houses. In response to this situation, demands for explanations have been made by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister in both houses. However, both the Speakers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have expressed dissatisfaction with the way the session was disrupted by opposition leaders.
After this decision, authorities suspended the MPs who boycotted from December 14. Untill Thursday, the number of suspended MP’s is a total of 146. In protest against the alleged murder of democracy and the suspension, organizers plan a counter-protest meeting in Delhi. The Congress President announces the organization of a parallel session to present counter-arguments through the media.
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