NATIONAL : Parliament has passed the ‘Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023’ with the Lok Sabha approving it today. The Rajya Sabha has already cleared it. The Bill replaces the ‘Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991’. It provides for the appointment, salary, and removal of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

According to the provisions of the Bill, the CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will consist of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition or leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.

Replying to a brief discussion on the bill, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the Bill has been brought in consonance with the direction of the Supreme Court regarding the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.

He said, under the legislation, a Search Committee headed by the Union Law Secretary will propose a panel of names to the Selection Committee. Mr. Meghwal said the Salary of the CEC and ECs will be equivalent to Judges of the Supreme Court. The Minister underlined that if the CEC or ECs passes any order, it will not be challenged in any court of law.

(with inputs from agency)