New Delhi, 11 August: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has responded to the criticism of the bill related to the appointment of election commissioners. He said on Friday that the government was asked to do so in the decision of the Supreme Court itself.
The Union Minister told reporters that the Supreme Court has said in its judgement that there is no law regarding the process of appointing election commissioners. The government should make a law on this. A selection committee will decide until the government makes a law.
He said that in 1991, a bill related to the service, salary, and allowances of election commissioners was introduced. There was no question of appointment in that. The present government has introduced a bill regarding the appointment. There will be a search committee for the appointment of the Election Commission. This search committee will recommend five names under the chairmanship of the cabinet secretary and the membership of the other two secretaries. A committee headed by the Prime Minister will make a selection from these names. Why does the opposition have an objection to this?
It is noteworthy that yesterday the government introduced the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Service Conditions, and Tenure) Bill, 2023, in the Rajya Sabha. Under this, the election commissioner will be appointed by a committee consisting of the prime minister, cabinet ministers, and the leader of the opposition.
It is noteworthy that earlier, the committee appointed by the Supreme Court had the Chief Justice in place of the cabinet minister.
