The government is set to change how the Chief Election Officer and the Election Commissioner are chosen. A new bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. This new plan removes the Chief Justice of India from the decision-making group. Now, the group will include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister chosen by the Prime Minister. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced this bill. The idea is that a three-person committee will suggest names for the Election Commission to the President. The Prime Minister will lead this committee. Earlier in March, the Supreme Court said that the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition should decide on these appointments. This was to be in place until the Parliament made a law about it. Notably, Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey will retire before the 2024 elections.
