New Delhi (Agency): In New Delhi, a new bill has been introduced to the Parliament that grants more authority to the prime minister-led selection panel responsible for appointing the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners.
This bill, titled “Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill,” details the process of appointment for these vital roles. It states that a Search Committee, led by the cabinet secretary and including two members of at least secretary rank with election-related expertise, will create a list of five potential candidates for these positions.
However, an important aspect of the proposed law, according to section 8 (2), is that the Selection Committee “may also consider any other person than those included in the panel by the Search Committee.” This means that the PM-led selection panel has the liberty to consider individuals not shortlisted by the Search Committee.
The bill further describes the makeup of the Selection Committee in Section 7 (1). The chief election commissioner and election commissioners will be recommended by a group consisting of the prime minister (serving as the chairperson), the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister chosen by the prime minister.
In situations where the Lok Sabha’s Leader of Opposition isn’t officially recognized, the leader of the largest opposition party will assume this role, as clarified by the bill.
Additionally, Section 5 of the bill states qualifications for the appointees. The candidates for CEC and ECs should either currently hold or have previously held a position equivalent to a secretary of the Government of India. Moreover, they must be individuals of “integrity” and possess a thorough understanding and experience in election management and conduct.
This bill was recently introduced in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, and awaits further discussion and potential approval.
