THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, April 16: The Supreme Court has scheduled May 14 to hear a series of petitions challenging the validity of appointments made under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
The petitions points out that the 2023 Constitution Bench verdict prescribed a selection panel including the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India (CJI), whereas the new law excludes the CJI.
The hearing date was set by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan, after advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, pressed for an urgent listing.
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Bhushan emphasized that the matter involves a critical constitutional issue, arguing that the Centre’s move to bypass the CJI in the selection process undermines democratic principles.
In response, Justice Surya Kant assured that the matter would be prioritized on May 14, even if it meant rescheduling a special bench case originally slated for that day. While Bhushan urged that the case be heard at the top of the board, Justice Kant noted that the bench was already dealing with multiple part-heard land acquisition matters on Wednesday.
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The top court had earlier scheduled April 16 for hearing the same batch of pleas. Bhushan has consistently maintained that the 2023 law, which replaces the CJI with a cabinet minister in the selection panel, directly contradicts the constitutional mandate laid out by the Supreme Court’s own larger bench verdict.
