Ex-CJIs Red Flag Sweeping Powers of EC Under ONOE

FORMER Chief Justices of India D Y Chandrachud and J S Khehar have flagged the sweeping powers that the One Nation One Election (ONOE) Bill seeks to confer on the Election Commission of India.

- PARVEZ SULTAN @ New Delhi

According to sources, both ex-CJIs clarified that the bill for simultaneous elections does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution—as alleged by some Opposition parties—but suggested some tweaks in the language and provisions of the bill to check the unbridled powers of the Election Commission.

On Friday, Chandrachud concluded his presentation before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by BJP MP P P Chaudhary, which was entrusted with the task to review the Bill.

Justice Khehar had already given his views on the legal and constitutional aspects of the proposed legislation.