Supreme Court refuses to stay EC appointments

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the appointment of two new Election Commissioners by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta, and Augustine George Masih refused to intervene in the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, whose names were finalised yesterday. The vacancies had come up in the Election Commission (EC) after the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey, and the sudden resignation of Arun Goel.

The petitions filed by Congress leader Jaya Thakur, the Association for Democratic Reforms, and others, challenged the constitutionality of various provisions of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.

The Act facilitates appointments to the top poll body by a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

The petitions question the government's majority on the selection panel and seek the inclusion of the Chief Justice of India in the appointment process.

The Supreme Court adjourned the matter for March 21.

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