'One poll' is unconstitutional, former law panel chief AP Shah tells JPC

DEPOSING before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 'One nation One election' Bill, former Delhi High Court chief justice A P Shah on Monday submitted a 12-page note asserting that the proposed legislation is unconstitutional, violative of democratic principles and federal structure, according to sources.

- PREETHA NAIR @ New Delhi

Meanwhile, senior advocate Harish Salve, who appeared before the panel, argued that the proposed law meets the constitutional requirements.

The sources said Shah, a former law commission chairman, faulted the bill on several counts, including the power given to the Election Commission to recommend postponing state assembly polls.

Salve, however, rejected the arguments that the one-nation-one-election (ONOE) bills fly in the face of the Constitution's basic structure and federal principles. Responding to a query by DMK MP P Wilson, Salve admitted that the ONOE is a conditional legislation, according to sources.