SC ON ELECTION COMMISSIONERS

SC ON ELECTION COMMISSIONERS











It refers to Supreme Court directing the petitioners in the petition to remove Navin Chawla from post of Election Commissioner to ascertain if such a petition can be entertained by Chief Election Commissioner. But even CEC in such a case can be alleged for being favourite of political rulers of the regime appointing him. Only way to check ugly allegations of bias against Election Commissioners is to select Election Commissioners through consensus amongst Prime Minister and Opposition Leader as also suggested by former Chief Election Commissioner BB Tondon. Already such a selection is done for many posts like of Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Information Commissioners and NHRC members. If Election Commission is constituted in such an impartial manner, then even the body can be given powers to implement poll-reforms after giving six-month’ notice to chairpersons of two houses of Parliament. Such notified poll-reforms may be considered approved by the Parliament if no objection is received from the Parliament within six-month stipulated notice-period. This will be beneficial because presently over-occupied and usually disturbed Parliament does not find time to implement poll-reforms for decades.