New Delhi, Feb 3: The Supreme Court on Monday fixed February 12 to hear pleas against the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners under the 2023 law.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said it would decide the issue on merit and finally.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Association for Democratic Reforms NGO, said the matter was listed on February 4 but not likely to be heard due to other matters.
Bhushan, who referred to the superannuation of incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on February 18, said the matter required an urgent hearing as it was covered by the 2023 verdict of the Constitution bench.
He said the 2023 verdict ruled the election commissioners couldn’t only be appointed by the government, but by an independent committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India or else it would be a threat to the electoral democracy.
“They have brought an Act by which they have removed the chief justice and brought in another minister, effectively making the commissioners appointment only at the pleasure of the government. That’s precisely what the Constitution bench said that it is opposed to the level-playing field and our electoral democracy. You need to have an independent committee to appoint the election commissioners,” said Bhushan. (PTI)
