Former Supreme Court judge calls for constitutional safeguards to ensure ECI’s independence

A collective of youth stages a protest in Kochi on Tuesday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. | Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

Former Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph has said that the Constitution should be appropriately amended to provide for the appointment and service conditions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), rather than leaving the matter to Parliament.

The appointment and service conditions of the ECI should be enshrined in the Constitution itself, as this would probably provide a better safeguard and go a long way towards ensuring the integrity and independence of the body, besides being in tune with the Constitution, he said in his online inaugural address at a discussion on ‘Independence of Election Commission of India: Compromised?’

The programme was organised by the Indian Association of Lawyers, Kerala, here on Tuesday. “It is meant to be independent and is never meant to be otherwise,” he said.