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EC should be selected by collegium

Kashmir Times. Dated: 1/28/2015 11:12:43 PM

Dear Editor,
With retirement of Shri VS Sampat from Election Commission, post of one Election Commissioner has fallen vacant. Prime Minister Narender Modi during campaign for Lok Sabha elections had criticized Election Commission for bias. Such criticism was not new with some earlier Chief Election Commissioners having been criticized as ‘men’ of ruling political rulers having appointed them. But none of the party or alliance having ruled the country ever tried to take legislative measures to avoid such controversies.
Election Commissioners should be appointed by a collegiums consisting also of Prime Minister and Leader of largest Opposition Party if possible by consensus in a manner Central Information Commissioners and Chief Vigilance Commissioner are appointed. It is indeed shocking and surprising that such a necessary legislative measure has till now been not considered for post of Election Commissioners requiring total unbias for these sensitive postings. It gives bad name to the constitutional body and also world’s largest democracy that Elections Commissioners are criticized for a procedure which certainly requires modification.
—Subhash Chandra Agrawal,
1775 Kucha Lattushah
Dariba, Chandni Chowk Delhi.