Government to move Bill on appointment of Election Commissioners; no CJI in selection panel

Nationaldesk:
The government on Thursday introduced a bill in the Rajya Sabha to regulate the appointment, conditions of service and tenure of the Chief Election Commissioner and other second election commissioners in the Election Commission.  The Bill provides for selection for top posts in the Election Commission to be made by a three-member committee chaired by the Prime Minister, comprising the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a nominated Cabinet Minister.  The proposed bill comes after the Supreme Court recently said the committee formed for top appointments to the Election Commission would include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice.  Now, if the bill passes, it will not include the Chief Justice.  The opposition has termed the sudden bill as unconstitutional.  The Congress said PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah wanted to control the Election Commission through the bill.  Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said it would affect the fairness of the elections.