Parliament passes bill on appointment, service terms of CEC, ECs

The bill to regulate the appointment and service terms of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners has got the parliament clearance with Lok Sabha passing it on Thursday by a voice vote after a brief debate.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 had been passed in the Rajya Sabha last week.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the 1991 Act on the service conditions of the CEC and the ECs was a half-baked attempt and the present Bill covers the areas left out by the previous legislations.

The bill provides for the appointment, qualifications, Search Committee, Selection Committee, term of office, salary, resignation and removal, leave, pension of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners.

The bill provides that CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a selection committee which will consist of the prime minister, a union cabinet minister, and leader of opposition or the leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha.

Most members of the opposition parties were not present in the house during the debate after 97 MPs were suspended from Lok Sabha for "unruly" behaviour.