Why no independent member in selection process for CEC, ECs? SC asks Centre

Parmod KumarNew Delhi, May 14 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Central government over what it described as a "show of independence" in the process of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, observing that the presence of a Cabinet Minister alongside the Prime Minister rendered the role of the Leader of Opposition in the three-member selection panel merely ornamental.

Observing that the Chief Justice of India is part of the panel for the selection of the CBI Director, and questioning why there was no independent member in the selection process for the CEC and the ECs, a Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said that the independence of the Election Commission was no...