New Delhi, Dec 13:
Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, which was moved by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Responding to the debate, Meghwal said, “The government is committed to conducting free and fair elections in the country.” During his reply in the Rajya Sabha, Meghwal said that in 1991, an Act was passed that mentioned the service conditions of Election Commissioners, but not the appointment process. The framers of the Constitution said in Article 324(2) that Parliament will make laws on the appointment process of the Election Commissioner. This Bill has been brought for this purpose.
Discussing the Bill, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha alleged that by bringing the document, the ruling BJP has insulted institutions. He accused the BJP of trying to control the Election Commission.
“This Bill will destroy the independence of EC to conduct a free and fair election process,” he alleged.
Debating on the bill, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala said, “The Bill’s intent is malicious and the result is disastrous. We are defenders of the Constitution of India, and we will continue to do so.”
