Parmod KumarNew Delhi, Sept. 23 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday referred to a five-judge Constitution Bench a batch of petitions challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, after a two-judge bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma delivered a split verdict on whether the challenge required consideration by a larger bench.
While differing on the Centre's plea for reference, both judges directed that the matter be placed before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for constitution of an appropriate bench to consider the challenge to the 2023 law.
The enactment replaced the arrangement prescribed by the Supreme...