Controversial Bill Excluded From The List Of 8 Bills

The controversial bill for the appointment of top election officers are excluded from the list of eight bills which were decided to be discussed today in the Parliament special session. The bill was not included in the list submitted to the opposition by the government in all-party meeting on Sunday. The meeting was held a day prior to the five-day Parliament session.

“Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Terms of Office) Bill” has been centre of controversies in recent days.

The bill was opposed by the opposition due to these reasons, once the bill implemented, it will strip the Election Commissioner and other election commissioners of the status of Supreme Court Judges. And the salary, allowance and the service conditions of the of the CEC, and other ECs will be same as that of the Cabinet Secretary.

The bill also takes down the power of Chief Justice to advise the President regarding the appointments of the election commissioners with a member of the Cabinet who will be nominated by the Prime Minister. This amendment will be against the Supreme Court ruling in March which says that the panel should comprise Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.

Arawind Kejriwal, the leader of Aam Aadmi Party called the situation ‘very dangerous,’ says NDTV.

When asked about the controversial bill, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “What I have to say, I have said” after the all-party meeting.