Bill to replace CJI with cabinet minister in panel to select CEC, ECs tabled in Rajya Sabha; Opposition protests

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

bill that seeks to replace the Chief Justice of India with a Cabinet minister nominated by the prime minister in the selection committee for choosing the chief election commissioner and ECs, virtually giving the dispensation the power to overrule the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and hand-pick candidates for these posts. Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced The Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Bill, 2023, while Opposition members were in the well demanding that a discussion on the situation in Manipur be held.

The bill has been introduced after the Supreme Court declared in the Anoop Baranwal vs Union of India case that the appointment of CEC and ECs shall be made on the recommendation of a panel comprising the PM, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. Clause 7 of the bill seeks to alter this provision in the appointment of the CEC and ECs, replacing CJI with a Cabinet minister nominated by the prime minister.

Clause 7(1) states that the CEC and ECs shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a selection committee consisting of the prime minister (chairperson), the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People (or leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha) and Union Cabinet minister nominated by the prime minister. This would ensure that the government has a complete say in the appointment as PM and the nominated Cabinet minister would overrule the LoP in case of a disagreement.