SC verdict on pleas for independent mechanism to appoint EC on Thursday

New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) The Supreme Court will deliver judgment on Thursday on a batch of petitions seeking a collegium-like system for the appointment of Election Commissioners (ECs) and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

A constitution bench, headed by Justice K.M. Joseph and comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy, and C.T. Ravikumar had reserved judgment in the matter on November 24, 2022. According to the cause list, two judgments, each by Justices Joseph and Rastogi, will be pronounced at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday in the matter.

During the arguments, Attorney General R. Venkataramani had told the Supreme Court that if it were to begin to doubt every step taken by the government in the process of appointment of the Election Commissioner, then it has implications on the integrity and independenceA of the institution.

The five-judge constitution bench, headed by Justice Joseph, had then shot a volley of questions at the country’s top law officer in connection with the appointment of Election Commissioner Arun Goel. It posed some critical questions to the AG in connection with Goel’s appointment: what deliberation could have been done to finalise his name within 24 hours, same-day clearance, same day process completed, and the appointment was made not even in 24 hours.

The Centre had, however, maintained that there is no trigger point for the Supreme Court to interfere in the appointment process of the Election Commissioner.

After hearing detailed arguments, the Supreme Court reserved the judgment on a batch of petitions seeking a collegium-like system for the appointment of the ECs and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

During the hearing, the Supreme Court had told the Centre that it wants to see the files relating to the recent appointment of Goel as the Election Commissioner and emphasised that it wants to see by what mechanism, “he was picked up”, and “there is no danger to produce it (files)”.

Rajnath calls up Nitish over humiliation of Galwan martyr’s father

Patna, March 1 (IANS) In wake of the alleged humiliation of a Galwan martyr’s father in Bihar’s Vaishali, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called up Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and expressed anguish over the incident.

He also asked the Chief Minister to take action against officers who misbehaved with the father.

Nitish Kumar himself revealed the incident in the Assembly on the third day of the Budget session on Wednesday. While BJP MLAs including Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha were walking out from the house on this issue, he asked them to stay in.

“The Defence Minister has called me and he was concerned about it. I have assured him about the investigation. I have directed Bihar Police to investigate the matter and take action if any police officer is involved in misbehaviour with the father of Galwan martyr’s son,” he said.

Despite the Chief Minister’s assurance, Sinha walked out from the Assembly.

Galwan martyr Jay Kishore Singh’s father Raj Kapoor Singh is facing charges of encroaching on a piece of land belonging to the state government and some portion of fellow villager Harinath Ram. Vaishali police booked him under the SC/ST Act as well as under extortion (‘rangdari’) apart from land encroachment acts.

Singh’s son Nand Kishore alleged that the SHO, Jandaha, Vishvanath Ram came to his house in Kajari Bujurg on Sunday night and humiliated his father, used abusive language against him and dragged him into the police van.

Nand Kishore also claimed that as the SHO and the complainant are from the same community, the former has taken the side of the latter.

DGP R.S. Bhatti directed the Vaishali police to constitute a team to investigate the incident. The district police was also directed to submit the report in a time bound manner and take necessary action if any official was involved in misbehaving with the martyr’s father.

Complainant Harinath Ram had registered two FIRs in 2019 and January 23, 2023 against Singh for encroaching his land as well as the government road to building a monument for his martyred son.

During the police investigation, the officials said that it was found that Singh has encroached on the land of the complainant as well as the government property and due to the monument, the road was blocked and villagers were facing problems. Hence, Jandaha SDPO Poonam Keshri visited the village and gave Singh 15 days to remove the monument from the government as well as the land belonging to Harinath Ram.