The committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to select the next Election Commissioner is expected to hold its first meeting today.
The selection committee of the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is likely to meet to discuss the replacement of Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey, who will demit office on February 14.
This would be the first appointment of an Election Commissioner as per the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 that was passed by Parliament in December. The Act sets out the procedure for appointment of the CEC and ECs for the first time. So far, all members of the ECI have been appointed by the President on the advise of the government.
Under the Act, the Prime Minister, a Union Minister nominated by him, and the Leader of the Opposition or leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha form the selection committee that will recommend a candidate to the President.
The selection process consists of two committees — the three-member selection committee headed by the PM and a three-member search committee headed by the law minister and two secretary-level officers.
Under the Act, the Prime Minister, a Union Minister nominated by him and the Leader of the Opposition or leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha form the selection committee that will recommend a candidate to the President.
The search committee recommends five names to the selection committee, the latter is empowered to pick commissioners from outside the list as well.
During the passage of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) in the Rajya Sabha on 12 December, the Opposition staged a walkout before the voice vote was held, alleging that its provision were “undemocratic”. The Narendra Modi-led government, however, maintained that the bill was completely in line with the directions of the top court.
The appointment process is ongoing at a time the ECI has been busy with preparations for the Lok Sabha elections.
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