Error On Commission – on appointment of election commisioners

Source– The post is based on the article “Error On Commission” published in “The Times of India” on 12th August 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Appointment to various constitutional posts

Relevance: Issues related to appointment of Election Commissioners

News– Recently, GOI tabled a bill governing the appointment of election commissioners in Rajya Sabha.

Why is the SC ruling on appointment of Election Commissioners significant?

Firstly, there is a conflict of interest, if the political executives manage the selection of Election Commissioners. Because, these Commissioners are responsible for supervising elections.

Secondly, it’s crucial for the Election Commission to maintain an impartial image in the eyes of all parties involved. Hence, it’s imperative that the procedure for appointing Election Commissioners doesn’t undermine the trustworthiness of the Commission’s rulings.

Way forward

In practical terms, the significance of the Leader of the Opposition can be negated. It is undesirable as it can lead to accusations of favoritism in appointment process

There is a need to ensure unanimous decisions by the selection committee. Providing the LOP with a substantive role will ensure that the Commission’s credibility is upheld.

For more reading- https://forumias.com/blog/s-y-quraishi-on-the-collegium-bill-how-to-make-election-commission-credible/