LS polls round the corner, CEC Rajiv Kumar now sole member of EC after Arun Goel resigned. SC had upheld constitutionality of single-member commission in TN Seshan & SS Dhanoa cases.
EBS is now gone, but ETS is still available, ECI should nudge political parties and the corporate world towards wider use of ETS. Then, at least one part of electoral funding can become cleaner.
During the event, Election Commissioner Arun Goel quoted the Vedas to emphasise that India was the world’s oldest, and not just the largest, democracy.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said 1991 Act on service conditions of CEC, ECs was a half-baked attempt and present Bill covers areas left out by previous legislations.
Bill, now passed in Rajya Sabha, seeks to negate an SC judgment on selection of the CEC and ECs in the Election Commission by replacing CJI in the panel with a cabinet minister.
Launch of S.Y. Quraishi’s book, India’s Experiment with Democracy saw Fali Nariman, Shashi Tharoor, Shekhar Gupta & Neerja Chowdhury discuss various aspects of the electoral system.
Session to have 5 sittings, take place from 18 to 22 September. There are speculations that government wants to push contentious laws like 'One nation, One election' and UCC.
If Modi govt is bringing a legislation to implement Supreme Court's decision, then it must also look at issues that affect the composition and operation of ECI.
Supreme Court can't become a parallel legislative body. But that's exactly what the court is doing by ordering for a committee with CJI on it to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner.
The dynamics between Europe and Russia have gone so south that mending fences looks like an uphill task—even as the US swings between sanctions and olive branches.
Centre for Science and Environment in new report makes case for rationalising GST on waste material, saying most informal operators can’t afford high tax & it also hinders recycling.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
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