BILL PASSED TO REFORM ECs' APPOINTMENT

Parliament on Thursday passed a bill aimed at regulating the appointment and service terms of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners, with Law Minister Arjun Meghwal stating that the legislation was introduced in response to a Supreme Court judgment.

- ASHISH SINHA

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, was passed by Lok Sabha following a brief debate and had been previously passed by Rajya Sabha last week.

Major Opposition political parties did not participate in the debate on the bill, as 97 of their members were suspended for “misconduct” for the remainder of the Winter session.

The bill encompasses provisions for the appointment, qualifications, Search Committee, Selection Committee, term of office, salary, resignation and removal, leave, and pension of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners.

Meghwal highlighted that the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991, lacks provisions regarding qualifications and the search committee for preparing a panel of persons considered by the Selection Committee for appointment as CEC and election commissioners.