The Lok Sabha passed the Chief Electoral Commission and Other Electoral Commission Bill, 2023. Earlier this bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha.
The bill aims to establish a procedure for the appointment of three members of the Election Commission of India (ECI). In a historic order in March, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court unanimously overturned the appointment process for the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Supreme Court had said that the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner will not be in the hands of the government. It was said by the court that the Chief Election Commission and other election commissions will be appointed on the basis of recommendation of a three-member committee in which apart from the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition party in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will also be a member. The Honorable Court also made it clear that, until there is no permanent legal provision made by the Parliament, this provision will continue.
Therefore, after the passing of the Chief Election Commission and other Election Commission (Service Terms, Service Terms and Office Period) Bill in the Lok Sabha today, the order of the Supreme Court will no longer be implemented.
