'Reflect A Bipartisan Consensus'

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I have given my anxious thought to this issue of the procedure of selection of CECs and ECs. I have carefully perused debates in the Constituent Assembly where Pandit Hirday Nath Kunzru and Prof. Shibban Lal Saksena spoke eloquently on the need to appoint a person as CEC or EC who commands confidence of a majority of both Houses of Parliament.In principle, one could say that the person appointed should be such as to be acceptable and should have the confidence of a cross section of the Parliament or the political spectrum. In the last 60 years after independence, our polity has undergone a lot of changes and from the days of one party dominance we are passing through an era ofcoalition governments. Any alternative arrangement has to keep this fact in view.

Presently, the appointments to the post of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and that of the chairman and the member of the National Human Rights Commission are made by constituting a committee which is bipartisan. In the case of appointment of the CVC, the leader of the opposition in the House of the People is a member of the selectioncommittee. In the case of the appointment to the NHRC, the leader of the opposition of both Houses of Parliament are members of the selection committee with the committee being presided over by the prime minister. The following is the composition of the committee forthe appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioner :

• (i) The Prime Minister - chairperson
  
• (ii) The Minister of Home Affairs - member
  
• (iii) The Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People - member.

• (i) The Prime Minister - chairperson
  
• (ii) Speaker of the House of the People - member
  
• (iii) Minister in-charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs in the government of India - member
  
• (iv) Leader of the opposition in the House of People - member
  
• (v) Leader of the opposition in the Council of States - member
  
• (vi) Deputy chairman of the Council of States - member.

Over the years the Commission has been able to win the confidence of the political parties and the voters with its impartiality and neutrality and has come to be recognised as one of the most successful election management bodies in the world. It appears that in order to nurture and strengthen this confidence of the public and the political parties, a change in the selection procedure for the appointment of CEC and ECs is necessary keeping in view the changed political scenario in the country with its multiparty focus. It would add prestige to the Commission if the Commissioners are chosen through aprocedure in which the President has the benefit of getting a recommendation from a committee that will reflect a bipartisan consensus. Therefore, it is suggested for your kind consideration that a committee having the following composition could be entrusted the responsibility of making this selection :

• (a) The Prime Minister - chairperson
  
• (b) Speaker of the House of the People - member
  
• (c) Deputy Chairman of the Council of States - member
  
• (d) Leaders of the opposition in two Houses -members
  
• (e) Minister in-charge in the Ministry of Law & Justice - member

Such a broad-based Committee in my considered view will greatly add to the perceived sense of impartiality, neutrality and credibility thereby further strengthening the faith of the public in the institutional framework of the Election Commission. I am therefore,submitting this proposal seeking your Excellency's invaluable guidance to the government on the above lines.