The Supreme Court of India will hear challenges to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners (EC) appointments under the new Act on Wednesday. Gyanesh Kumar was recently appointed as CEC and will serve until January 26, 2029.
The petitions challenge the 2023 Act for excluding the CJI from the EC appointment panel, going against a previous Supreme Court ruling that the PM, Opposition Leader, and CJI should make these appointments until a law was passed. Petitioners argue that excluding the CJI undermines efforts to protect the election commission from political and executive influence.
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, representing NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, criticized the government for excluding the CJI, calling it a ‘mockery of democracy.’ Advocate Varun Thakur stated that three appointments were made under the new law. The bench assured priority to these petitions after addressing urgent matters.
Kumar was appointed CEC, with Vivek Joshi as an EC until 2031. The law stipulates retirement at 65 or after six years for CEC or ECs. Under new legislation, former IAS officers Kumar and Sukhbir Sandhu were recommended for EC posts in 2024 by a panel led by PM Narendra Modi.
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