A Bill prescribing the manner of selecting the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners was moved by the Central Government today.
With as per the Bill, the appointment for the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners shall be done by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting:
(a) the Prime Minister- Chairperson;
(b) the Leader of Opposition in the House of the People Member;
(c) a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister- Member;
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Bill titled “Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 in the Rajya Sabha.
The Supreme Court Constitution Bench had ruled that the committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India, shall be apppointing the Election Commissioners till the Parliament frames a law prescribing the selection process.
The Bench led by Justice KM Joseph passed the direction to ensure the independence of the Election Commissioners from the independence.
The bench during the discussion, noted that there is no Parliamentary law at place in terms of Article 324(2) of the Constitution laying down the selection procedure for Election Commissioners.
The Bill seeks to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners by the panel headed by the Prime Minister.