A petition filed in the Supreme Court seeks to block the Union government from appointing a new election commissioner under the recently enacted Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Act.
Congress leader Jaya Thakur’s plea follows the sudden resignation of Arun Goel, leaving the poll panel with one member ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The petition urges adherence to guidelines mandating appointment by a panel including the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, and Leader of the Opposition.
The Act, passed in December 2023, replaced the Chief Justice of India with a cabinet minister on the selection panel, raising concerns about the commission’s independence. The court has agreed to examine challenges to the Act, but refused to stay it.
Questions surround Goel’s resignation, with speculation about possible differences with the chief election commissioner or the government. The petition underscores the ongoing debate on the appointment process’s impact on electoral integrity.
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