- By Aditya Jha
- Mon, 17 Feb 2025 08:58 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Congress has criticised the central government for holding the meeting for the appointment of the new Chief Election Commissioner of India. Party leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Ajay Maken stated that the meeting involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi should have been postponed, citing that the matter was scheduled for hearing in the Supreme Court.
Singhvi stated that while the BJP-led central government wants control, it does not want to take responsibility. He further said that the committee should comprise the prime minister, leader of the opposition, and Chief Justice of India, instead of a central cabinet minister.
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"So far, the Supreme Court has passed three orders regarding this and the next hearing is scheduled to take place around February 19. Therefore, the stand of Congress regarding the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is very clear: The meeting held today regarding the election of CEC should be postponed, the Modi government should file a petition in the Supreme Court that the hearing related to the CEC election should be held soon. Congress will fully support the government in this," Singhvi said in a press conference. "Modi government should leave aside its ego and accept this demand," he suggested.
'Credibility Is The Most Important Thing'
"Removing or trying to keep the Chief Justice out of the appointment (of CEC) process as an independent entity, the government has made it clear, they want only control but not credibility. The most important thing for the Election Commission is credibility," he added.
Earlier in 2023, the Supreme Court had ruled that the CEC shall be appointed by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice.
However, the central government implemented the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. This act replaced the Chief Justice of the apex court with the Home Minister. The act was later challenged in the Supreme Court, and the hearing was scheduled for February 19.