In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India appointed a new Election Commission under the 2023 Act. Headed by Justices Sanjeev Khanna, Deepankar Dutta, and Augustine George Masih, the court chose not to stay the selection process despite a provision in the constitution barring the Chief Justice of India from interfering.
The decision came during the hearing of writ petitions filed by Congress leader Jay Thakur and the Association for Democratic Reforms. During the trial, the plaintiffs highlighted the progress of the appointment meeting and urged the court to take action. However, the bench directed them to file a fresh application to address this concern.
Notably, the Court emphasized that it does not generally suspend the law employing a temporary injunction. The appointment of two new election officials by a team led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go ahead as planned. Former India Ministry officials Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Sandhu were appointed to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of Anupachandra Pandey and the sudden resignation of Arun Goel.
The Supreme Court decision allows for the reconsideration of certain petitions challenging the appointment of election supervisors under the 2023 law. After considering this important matter, the court has scheduled the next hearing on March 21. The results of this case carry great implications for the electoral process in India. As the country eagerly awaits the court’s final verdict, it remains to be seen how this case will unfold and shape the future of the Election Commission.
