Skip to main content
Source
Jagran
https://english.jagran.com/india/sc-to-hear-pleas-challenging-appointment-of-ce…
Author
Abhishek Sheoran
Date

The Supreme Court had set February 19 as the hearing date for petitions challenging the appointments of the CEC and ECs under the 2023 law, stating that if something happens in the meantime, there would also be consequences. The Court had also mentioned that a final decision on the issue would be made based on the merits of the case.

The Supreme Court will today hear petitions challenging the appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms, informed the bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh that despite the directions given by the Constitutional Bench in the 2023 verdict, the government has excluded the Chief Justice from the selection committee and mocked democracy.

In this verdict, the Constitutional Bench had directed that the selection and appointment of the CEC and ECs should be done by a committee, which would include the Chief Justice. Bhushan said, "This matter is listed for February 19, but it is at item number 41. The government has disregarded the approach adopted by the Constitutional Bench and appointed the CEC and ECs under the 2023 law. Please bring this matter up because immediate hearing is required."

Advocate Varun Thakur, representing another petitioner Jaya Thakur, said that the government has made three appointments under the new law, which have been challenged. The bench assured Bhushan and other parties that after some urgent matters were listed, the petitions would be heard on February 19.

Notably, the government on February 17 appointed EC Gyanesh Kumar as the next CEC. He is the first CEC to be appointed under the new law.

The Supreme Court had set February 19 as the hearing date for petitions challenging the appointments of the CEC and ECs under the 2023 law, stating that if something happens in the meantime, there would also be consequences. The Court had also mentioned that a final decision on the issue would be made based on the merits of the case.


abc