{"id":73357,"date":"2026-05-09T17:37:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T12:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=73357"},"modified":"2026-05-09T17:37:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T12:07:43","slug":"election-commission-appointments-sc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/09-05-2026\/election-commission-appointments-sc","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court on Election Commission Appointments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity &amp; Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the Supreme Court remarked that Parliament\u2019s prolonged failure to enact a law on Election Commission (EC) appointments reflected a possible \u2018<strong>tyranny of the elected\u2019<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>Supreme Court\u2019s Recent Observations (May 2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u2018Tyranny of the Elected\u2019: <\/strong>It questioned why Parliament failed for decades to enact a law despite constitutional mandate, and remarked <em>\u2018this should be equated with tyranny of the elected\u2019.<\/em>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It reflects judicial concern regarding concentration of power, and executive influence over independent institutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Debate on Parliamentary Deliberation: <\/strong>The Court questioned whether Parliament adequately debated the <strong>Anoop Baranwal judgment<\/strong>, and the spirit of judicial recommendations was reflected in the law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Constitutional Position of the Election Commission<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Article 324 of the Constitution: <\/strong>The ECI is established under <strong>Article 324<\/strong> of the Constitution of India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Composition:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Originally, the Commission had only the <strong>Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since 1993, it has functioned as a <strong>multi-member body<\/strong> consisting of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), and two Election Commissioners (ECs).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Appointment: <\/strong>The <strong>President of India<\/strong> appoints the CEC and Election Commissioners.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Article 324(2) states that appointments shall be <strong>subject to any law made by Parliament.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Functions: <\/strong>The ECI supervises, directs, and controls elections to Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and Councils, President and Vice-President of India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Powers and Role: <\/strong>Prepares electoral rolls, conducts elections, enforces the Model Code of Conduct, and recognizes political parties and allocates election symbols.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Independence of the ECI: <\/strong>The Constitution provides safeguards to ensure independence, security of tenure for the CEC, removal of CEC similar to a Supreme Court judge, and service conditions cannot be altered to their disadvantage after appointment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Were Election Commissioners Appointed Earlier?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Before the 2023 law,<\/strong> the <strong>Union Law Ministry<\/strong> prepared a list of candidates, and a file was sent to the <strong>Prime Minister<\/strong>, and then PM advised the <strong>President of India<\/strong>, who formally made the appointment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>Law on EC Appointments (2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Parliament enacted the <strong>Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It replaced the CJI in the selection committee with a <strong>Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>New Selection Committee: <\/strong>Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and Union Cabinet Minister (nominated by PM).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Concerns with the 2023 Law<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Executive Dominance: <\/strong>Two out of three members belong to the executive that restores executive control over appointments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dilution of Judicial Neutrality: <\/strong>Removal of the CJI weakens checks and balances, and reduces institutional neutrality in appointments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wide Discretion in Selection: <\/strong>Under Section 8(2), the committee may choose persons outside the search committee shortlist.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It may reduce transparency and objective scrutiny.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Validity Despite Vacancy: <\/strong>Section 7(2) states appointments will remain valid even if there is a vacancy in the committee.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It can undermine collective decision-making.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Anoop Baranwal Case (2023)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Petitioners challenged the absence of an independent mechanism for EC appointments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Supreme Court observed that the Election Commission is a <strong>guardian of democracy<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Electoral integrity requires institutional independence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Executive monopoly in appointments can undermine public trust.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Supreme Court\u2019s 2023 Interim Arrangement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Appointment Committee: <\/strong>The Court directed that appointments be made by a committee comprising: Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and Chief Justice of India (CJI).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Constitutional Rationale: <\/strong>The Court relied upon <strong>Constituent Assembly Debates, Dr. BR Ambedkar\u2019s concerns<\/strong> regarding executive influence, and<strong> basic structure principles<\/strong> of democracy and free elections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Important Observations in Anoop Baranwal Judgment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Election Commission as Guardian of Democracy: <\/strong>The Court held that free and fair elections are part of the Constitution\u2019s basic structure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Voting as Freedom of Expression: <\/strong>The judgment expanded constitutional understanding by linking voting rights with freedom of speech and expression <em>(Article 19(1)(a)).<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Institutional Independence: <\/strong>The Court recommended an independent EC secretariat, charging EC expenses to the <strong>Consolidated Fund of India.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was aimed at insulating the Commission from financial pressure by the executive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Suggested Reforms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Independent Collegium: <\/strong>Includes Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and Chief Justice of India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Transparent Selection Criteria: <\/strong>Public disclosure of eligibility norms, and selection rationale.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Independent Secretariat: <\/strong>Reduce administrative dependence on the executive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial Autonomy: <\/strong>Charge EC expenditure to the Consolidated Fund of India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parliamentary Scrutiny: <\/strong>Strengthen committee-based deliberations on constitutional appointments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-law\/election-commission-sc-challenge-appointment-process-10679037\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: IE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> <\/p>\n<p>Context<\/p>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">\n<p>Recently, the Supreme Court remarked that Parliament\u2019s prolonged failure to enact a law on Election Commission (EC) appointments reflected a possible \u2018tyranny of the elected\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong><\/p>\n<p>Supreme Court\u2019s Recent Observations (May 2026)<\/p>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"\t>\n<p>\u2018Tyranny of the Elected\u2019: It questioned why Parliament failed for decades to enact a law despite constitutional mandate, and remarked \u2018this should be equated with tyranny of the elected\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">\n<p>It reflects judicial concern regarding concentration of power, and executive influence over independent institutions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/09-05-2026\/election-commission-appointments-sc \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73357"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73357\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73359,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73357\/revisions\/73359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}