EMAIL TO THE EDITOR

The Central Government has appointed Sunil Arora as the new Election Commissioner. Though Election Commissioners appointed by political rulers at the Centre have so far exhibited unbiased attitude like in recent controversy in the Rajya Sabha elections, there is the need to ensure avoiding controversies for which the selection of Election Commissioners should be by a collegium also consisting of Prime Minister and largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.

A public interest litigation is pending in this matter before the Supreme Court. Even the then Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi publicly favoured such a system which already exists for selection of Information Commissioners and Vigilance Commissioners. It is indeed unfortunate that every reform concerning polls has to be there only after intervention of the Supreme Court, which otherwise should be done by Central government at its own.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own.

(The author of the column is SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL, Guinness Record Holder & RTI Consultant)