The Congress on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding the appointment procedure of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).
The Apex court on Thursday in its landmark verdict, ruled that a panel of Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India would make appointment to the post of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners until a law is put in place in this regard.
“This judgement is extremely important.We welcome this judgement,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press conference at the party headquarters here, referring to the SC’s verdict.
The Congress MP added, “We would also like to request that the letter and spirit of this is applied to an institution like ED (Enforcement Directorate).”
“The ED has made a coalition with the government. The coalition is of ‘vendetta’, selective application of the law only against the Opposition,” he alleged.
The Opposition including Congress has been accusing the BJP-led government at the Centre of ‘misusing’ the central probe agencies.
A five-judge bench led by Justice K M Joseph on Thursday noted lacuna in the process of appointment poll panel under Article 324 of the Constitution, saying the EC should remain aloof from all sorts of interference by the Executive.
The SC passed the ruling on a batch of petitions were filed by Anoop Barnwal, Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, NGO- Association for Democratic Reforms and Dr Jaya Thakur seeking an independent mechanism for appointment of CEC and ECs.
“The CEC and ECs will be selected by a panel comprising PM, LoP/leader of the single largest party & the CJI until parliament brings a law in this regard,” the Supreme Court said, in its ruling today.
