In the upcoming special session of Parliament, slated to commence on September 18, the proceedings will commence with a ‘Samvidhan Sabha’—a significant initiative. The Central government has chosen to inaugurate this special session with a discussion commemorating Parliament’s 75-year journey, harkening back to its inaugural gathering on December 9, 1946.
In addition to this, the government has outlined an ambitious legislative agenda for the session, encompassing four bills. Among them is a crucial bill aimed at regulating the appointment, conditions of service, and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Notably, this bill, originally introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session on August 10, shares the stage with two other bills: ‘The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023,’ and ‘The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023,’ both of which received approval from the Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2023.
The ‘Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ seeks to make amendments to the Advocates Act, 1961, while the ‘Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023’ proposes the repeal of the dated Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867.
Furthermore, the Lok Sabha’s agenda includes ‘The Post Office Bill, 2023,’ initially presented in the Rajya Sabha on August 10, 2023, which seeks to replace the antiquated Indian Post Office Act, 1898.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, during the previous session, introduced the bill concerning the appointment of Chief Election Commissioners and other Election Commissioners.
This bill also addresses the procedural aspects of business conducted by the Election Commission. It introduces a provision for the appointment of Election Commissioners by the President, based on the recommendations of a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister, with the Prime Minister chairing the panel.
If enacted, this bill would amend the Supreme Court’s March 2023 ruling, which stated that the President would appoint Election Commissioners upon the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India.
Additionally, the government has convened a meeting of floor leaders from all political parties on September 17, a day before the five-day session commences.