Govt to drop discussion on EC appointment bill in special parliament session: Report

Before the peculiar league of the Parliament commenced, the secretariats had issued an authoritative connection chalking retired the docket of the peculiar parliament session. The connection mentioned the Chief Election Commissioner and different Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 arsenic portion of the agenda.

However, latest reports person suggested that authorities whitethorn not propulsion for transition of the measure connected assignment of CEC and predetermination commissioners successful the five-day league of Parliament, quality bureau PTI reported citing radical acquainted with the developments. The measure was introduced successful Rajya Sabha by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal connected 10 August.

The radical person informed PTI that 1 presumption wrong the authorities is to notation the measure to the lasting committee connected instrumentality and justice.

Some erstwhile CECs, including N Gopalaswamy, V S Sampat and S Y Quraishi, had connected Saturday written to the premier curate opposing the proviso to equate the CEC and the ECs to the furniture secretary.

Opposition leaders spoke against the measure connected Sunday astatine an all-party gathering convened by the authorities connected the eve of the Parliament session.

Criticism, including from a fewer erstwhile CECs and ECs, of immoderate of its provisions mightiness person made the authorities reconsider its decision, the PTI study states.

What is the CEC Bill?

The Chief Election Commissioner and different Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 seeks to regenerate the Chief Justice of India with a furniture curate successful the sheet for enactment of the main predetermination commissioner and predetermination commissioners, successful a determination that volition let the authorities to person much power successful the assignment of members of the canvass panel.

The measure besides said that salary, allowances and different work conditions of the CEC and ECs volition beryllium the aforesaid arsenic that of the Cabinet Secretary, a alteration from their existent parity with a Supreme Court judge. Critics person said it amounts to diluting the authorization of the canvass watchdog.

A vacancy volition originate successful the Election Commission (EC) aboriginal adjacent twelvemonth erstwhile Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey demits bureau connected February 15 connected attaining the property of 65 years.

Updated: 18 Sep 2023, 09:24 PM IST