17/10/2026
Election Commission Must Be Independent — Not Controlled by Majority
Instead of repeatedly changing the composition of the Selection Committee for appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, Parliament should consider a more fundamental safeguard in the existing law:
EVERY DECISION OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE SHOULD BE UNANIMOUS.
Every member must have an equal and independent right to withhold concurrence. No Election Commissioner should be appointed merely because a majority of the Committee supports the recommendation.
A constitutional institution entrusted with conducting free and fair elections must command the confidence of every section of our democracy.
My proposal is simple:
No majority appointment.
No unilateral control.
Unanimous concurrence.
Transparent reasons.
Time-bound reconsideration.
This is not about any political party. It is about strengthening the independence, credibility and institutional legitimacy of the Election Commission of India.
Let Parliament debate this reform seriously.
— Anand S Jondhale
Advocate, Supreme Court of India
National Secretary, Social Justice Department
Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar