SC to hear plea against appointment of EC under new law

The Supreme Court on Wednesday 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.

IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu with Union Minister of State (Ind. Charge.) of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal and Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar during the 14th National Voters' Day celebrations, at Zorawar Auditorium, Manekshaw Centre, in New Delhi on January 25, 2024. Photograph: Election Commission of India on Facebook

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.

“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 are the two members of it.

The NGO has moved the top court after Election Commissioner Arun Goel put in his papers recently.