The bill for the appointment of top election officers will not be included for discussion during the five-day "Amrit Kaal" session of Parliament. According to reports, it was not included in the list of eight bills placed before the opposition at an all-party meeting on September 17.
Ahead of the special session of the Parliament, Prime Minister Modi said the session will be short but with "historic decisions".
The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, was passed in the Rajya Sabha on August 10.
Parliament special session live updates
However, the bill received opposition from several quarters since it proposed to strip the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners of the status of Supreme Court judges. It proposed that the salary, allowance, and service conditions of the CEC and other ECs will be the same as that of the Cabinet Secretary. The bill is said to be opposed by several parties at the all-party meeting on September 17.
According to the bill, the President will ratify the appointments following the recommendation of a selection body consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), and a Cabinet minister who would be nominated by the PM.
The bill also sought to replace the Chief Justice of India from a panel to advise the President regarding the appointments of the election commissioners with a member of the Cabinet. These ECs will be nominated by the Prime Minister. This is in contrast to a Supreme Court judgment of March which said the panel should comprise the Prime Minister, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India.
According to NDTV, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, while speaking to the media after the all-party meeting on September17, did not mention the bill.
When asked whether the CEC and EC bill will be brought for discussion and passing, he had said, "What I have to say, I have said," he told reporters.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
