Appointment of ECs: SC to hear on March 15 plea against law excluding CJI from panel
Under the new law, the selection panel includes the PM as the chairperson and the leader of opposition and a union minister nominated by the PM as the other two members
The Supreme Court on Wednesday (March 13) agreed to hear on March 15 a plea of an NGO challenging the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from a panel meant for selecting the CEC and the election commissioners.
A bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna took note of the submissions of lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms, seeking urgent listing of the plea and said it will be listed on Friday (March 15).
“I just got the message from the CJI that it will be listed on Friday,” Justice Khanna said.
The NGO challenges the validity of a provision of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.
Under the new law, the selection panel includes the prime minister as the chairperson and the leader of opposition and a union minister nominated by the PM as the other two members.
The NGO has moved the top court after Election Commissioner Arun Goel put in his papers recently.
(With agency inputs)
