High court refuses to stay new law on appointment of Election Commissioners
The supreme court has declined to stay the Central Government's appointment of election
commissioners law and has ordered the Centre to respond to the case.
Last year in March, while hearing a case about the appointment of election commissioners, the Supreme
court directed the creation of a committee consisting of the Prime minister, the leader of the Opposition,
and the Chief Justice of india to appoint the Chief election Commissioner and election commissioners.
Recently, the central government introduced a bill in parliament to formally establish this committee,
which was subsequently passed. The committee will be led by the Prime minister, and include the leader
of opposition in the lok sabha and a union minister nominated by the Prime Minister.
Some individuals, including Jaya Thakur of the congress party, filed a petition in the supreme Court
against the bill, arguing that the central government should prohibit it.
The case was heard before a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. Lawyers representing
the petitioners told the court that the Act violates the practice of devolution of powers and requested an
immediate ban on the law.
The judges, however, directed the Centre to file a reply saying that the stay could not be imposed without
hearing the arguments of the opposition parties.