Bill proposes Cabinet minister, excluding CJI in selection panel to appoint CEC, ECs

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PTI, this panel will also include the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Cabinet minister. This diverges from a Supreme Court ruling in March, which stated that the committee's composition should consist of the prime minister, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India. Opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, quickly capitalized on the situation and alleged that the government was undermining a directive from a Constitution bench.

A vacancy is set to occur in the Election Commission (EC) in the coming year as Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey is due to retire on February 14 upon reaching the age of 65. His retirement will coincide with the anticipated announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections' timetable by the EC. In the previous two instances, the commission had declared parliamentary elections in March.

The Supreme Court, in its March ruling, intended to safeguard the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners from any interference by the Executive branch. The court had determined that the appointments would be carried out by the President based on the recommendations of a committee consisting of the prime minister, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India. A constitution bench composed of five judges, led by Justice KM Joseph, reached a unanimous decision affirming that this principle would remain effective until Parliament enacts a law addressing this matter.