The Aadmi Party criticized the BJP-led Central Government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the promulgation of the bill which seeks to remove the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection board of Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) and Election Commissioners(ECs). They no longer entrust their faith in the CJI and this is why another decision of the Supreme Court has been overturned.
The decision related to the formation of an ‘Independent Selection Board’ by the Supreme Court to select the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) has been reversed by introducing a bill. The Supreme Court had ordered that the selection of the CEC and ECs be done through the ‘Independent Selection Board’ for the purpose of conducting non-partisan elections. The Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice of India (CJI) were to be included in this board. However, the Modi government has overturned the decision by introducing the bill. Now, the committee responsible for the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners will include the Prime Minister, a minister chosen by him, and an opposition leader.
In this regard, senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and Cabinet Minister Shri Saurabh Bharadwaj, commented that for the first time in the history of India’s judiciary, such distrust has been shown in the Chief Justice and the country’s cabinet and Prime Minister. Similarly, the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court had decided that “the Delhi government will have powers over services”, but the central government, led by the BJP, has also overturned this decision.
Senior AAP leader and Delhi’s Health Minister Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj, addressed an important press conference at the party headquarters today. He stated, “A few days ago, on May 11, 2023, after years of legal battles, the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the elected government in Delhi has authority over services in Delhi. Just eight days after this, the central government issued an order and reversed the years of hard work by the Supreme Court. On August 8, within the Parliament, the judgment of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court was overturned by introducing a law. At that time, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that the Prime Minister does not have faith in the Supreme Court”.
He mentioned that over the past few years, questions have been continuously raised about the impartiality of the Election Commission that the Election Commission works under the influence of the central government, the Election Commission waits for the Prime Minister’s last rally to conclude before announcing the election dates. All of this has been witnessed openly. The Supreme Court put a halt to these questions, stating that a neutral panel will select the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. The Supreme Court had ruled that the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners should be done by an impartial independent selection committee of the Parliament. This committee would include the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice of India. This meant that even if the ruling party and the opposition had differing opinions, a neutral person like the Chief Justice of India could mediate, and an independent Election Commission could be formed. However, even this decision has been overturned.
Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj further added, “It’s unfortunate for the country’s Parliament that the institution that is looked upon with respect throughout the nation, the judiciary, is not trusted by the Prime Minister. The police, CBI, income tax, ED, Election Commission, etc., all of these institutions have been intimidated. It’s been alleged that these institutions work at the whims and fancies of the Central Government. Only one institution, the Supreme Court, remains independent in the country. But by bringing this law to the Parliament, the Prime Minister has proven that he doesn’t even trust the Chief Justice of India”.
Shri Saurabh Bhardwaj quoted The Supreme Court’s statement which stated that in the committee that selects the Election Commissioner, the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice of India would be included.
“The Prime Minister says that within this committee, there will be the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and ministers chosen by them. In this scenario, “He’s a problem only with the Chief Justice of India”. On the other hand, if his ministers come into this committee, then everything will be resolved. I believe that for the first time, such a lack of trust has been shown by the country’s cabinet and Prime Minister in the Chief Justice of India. This will be written in black letters in India’s parliamentary history. It is very shameful that today, even the Chief Justice of the country is not trusted by the Prime Minister”, he concluded.
