1 month ago
Supreme Court Questions Election Commission Appointment Process
The Supreme Court of India is looking at a new law that says how the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners are chosen.
The court said it wants to make sure the people who pick the commissioners are not too close to the government.
It also said that the Election Commission should look independent, not just be independent.
The court is deciding whether to ask a bigger group of judges to look at the case.
The law now puts a cabinet minister on the selection panel instead of the Chief Justice of India, and the court is not happy about that.
The court wants to make sure the process is fair and that the public believes the Election Commission is independent.
Supreme Court reserved its order on whether to refer the challenge to a five‑judge bench.
Court questioned the selection panel, noting government dominance with the Prime Minister and a Cabinet Minister.
Court criticized the government’s claim that judges select judges.
Court emphasized the Election Commission must appear independent to the public.
Court referenced the 2023 law that replaced the Chief Justice of India on the panel with a Cabinet Minister.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
- What
- Reserved order on whether to refer the challenge to a five‑judge bench and questioned the selection panel for the Chief Election Commissioner
- Where
- Supreme Court of India
- When
- Thursday (date of hearing not specified)
- Why
- To ensure the Election Commission remains independent and the appointment process is fair
Key facts
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
- Issue
- Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners
- Law
- Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office Act, 2023
- Decision
- Order reserved on referral to a five‑judge bench
Quotes
Supreme Court Bench
Justices of the Supreme Court of India
“It is not sufficient that the Commission is independent. It must appear to be independent also.”
thestatesman.com
“As you said judges select judges, we wonder whether judges select judges nowadays.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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