NEW DELHI: The union government moved a Bill in Rajya Sabha on Thursday which proposes a panel led by the prime minister to gain control over the appointment of election commissioners in India. With this development, it is more or less confirmed that the appointment of election commissioners in the country will solely rest within the ambit of the union government.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the bill amidst a big clamor of protest from opposition parties as they lashed out at the bill labeling it as ridiculing the constitutional independence of the country. Currently, there is no existing law that has authority over the appointment of Election commissioners in the country. The Bill proposes that the President appoints the Election Commissioners on the recommendation of a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the largest party, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

Five names to be considered for the posts of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner should be given to the search committee headed by the Prime Minister, consisting of the Cabinet Secretary and two secretaries. Those who have completed 60 years of age (maximum 65 years), adept in election matters and are working or have worked in a secretary rank with a union government shall be considered for the post. Even it is pertinent for the officers in the search committee to have a good understanding of election-related matters.

The Chief Commissioner and other Commissioners will get a salary equal to that of the Cabinet Secretary.

The current chief election commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey is planning to retire just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The committee formed under the bill (if the bill becomes law) will have to recommend someone for the first time during this period.

Earlier, the constitutional bench of the supreme court ruled that the election commissioners' appointment by the president should be based on advice from a panel consisting of the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, and the chief justice of India. However, now the government has omitted CJI from the list, kicking up a political talk point for the coming days to discuss. The constitutional bench cited the absence of parliamentary law in the selection of the election commissioner of India and wanted a proper replacement rather than letting the power strings remain with the government.