more-inThe Supreme Court on Friday sought the Attorney-General’s assistance on a PIL petition pointing out the vagueness in the procedure for removal of Election Commissioners, saying it affects the Election Commission’s autonomy. The petition said the ambiguity about the removal procedure of the Election Commissioners may affect the functional independence of the Commission. Same powers“The CEC and the Election Commissioners enjoy the same decision-making powers which is suggestive of the fact that their powers are at par with each other. It contended that the “rationale behind not affording similar protection to Election Commissioners is not explicable.”The element of independence sought to be achieved under the Constitution is not exclusively for an individual alone but for the institution, it said. The petition, in short, has asked the Supreme Court to provide Election Commissioners with the same protection against arbitrary removal as the Chief Election Commissioner.

Source: The Hindu December 01, 2017 16:30 UTC