Congress Urges Centre to Delay Selection of Chief Election Commissioner, Citing Supreme Court Order

Congress Questions Panel Composition, Alleges Government Seeks “Control, Not Credibility”

The Congress party has called on the government to postpone the selection of the new Chief Election Commissioner, accusing it of violating a Supreme Court order by including Home Minister Amit Shah in the selection panel instead of the Chief Justice of India.

The panel, which includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, met on Monday to choose the next Chief Election Commissioner. However, Congress argued that the panel’s composition defies a Supreme Court directive that mandates the inclusion of the Chief Justice of India, alongside the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition.

In March 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that the Chief Election Commissioner should be appointed by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. This arrangement was meant to remain effective until the government enacted a new law on the matter.

The government subsequently introduced the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which replaced the Chief Justice with the Home Minister on the selection panel. This law has been challenged in the Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for February 19.

Congress leader Ajay Maken argued that, given the upcoming hearing, the meeting to select the Chief Election Commissioner should have been postponed to respect the judicial process. He urged the government to “leave ego aside” and wait for the Supreme Court’s decision before proceeding with the appointment.

News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”