Eminent jurists remain split on ONOP proposal

Jurists such as senior advocate Harish Salve appeared before the JPC looking into the two bills that aim to usher in simultaneous elections

- HT Correspondents

NEW DELHI: Senior advocate Harish Salve on Monday backed the Union government's proposal to hold simultaneous state and national elections but warned against the unrestricted power of the Election Commission as proposed in the Constitution amendment bill, people aware of developments said.

Salve interacted with the joint parliamentary committee looking into the two bills that aim to usher in simultaneous elections. Former Delhi high court chief justice, Justice AP Shah, however, opposed the idea of simultaneous elections and called it an attack on India's federal structure, the people cited above added.

Salve argued that things change with time and cited the example of how eminent jurist Nani Palkhiwala was opposed to the idea of the anti-defection law, but over time, it was proved that the law was required.