New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed February 19 to hear pleas against the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners under the 2023 law saying if anything happens in the interregnum, the consequences are bound to follow.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was told by advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for an NGO, that earlier the pleas were scheduled to be heard on Wednesday but now they have been listed for hearing on February 19.
Bhushan said the urgency in the matter is that Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is scheduled to superannuate on February 18 and the government may appoint the new CEC under the 2023 law, which is under challenge.
The bench said, “We are fixing the matter for hearing on February 19. If anything happens in the interregnum, then the consequences are bound to follow.” Bhushan, appearing for NGO ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’, said the apex court registry has informed them that as Justice Kant was unwell, the matters were posted for hearing on February 19.
Justice Kant said now all the matters will be taken up for hearing on February 19.
On February 3, the top court while fixing the matter for Wednesday, said it will decide the issue on merit and finally.
Bhushan had earlier submitted that the 2023 verdict held that the election commissioners have to be selected for appointment by an independent panel comprising the prime minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India.
SC To Hear Pleas Against CEC, ECs Appointments
