Bill on EC appointments may not be taken up in this session: Sources
CEC and election commissioners in the five-day session of Parliament that began Monday, sources said amid criticism of its provisions including by the opposition and former chief election commissioners. They said one view within the government is to refer the bill to the standing committee on law and justice.
The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on August 10.
Some former CECs, including N Gopalaswamy, V S Sampat and S Y Quraishi, had on Saturday written to the prime minister opposing the provision to equate the CEC and the ECs to the cabinet secretary.
As of now, the poll panel members are equivalent to judges of the Supreme Court.
It is not only status but symbolism that election commissioners enjoy the same status as an SC judge.
