Ex-CJIs endorse ONOE, but flag concerns of Bill

New Delhi: Former chief justices of India, who have conveyed their views to a parliamentary committee on the bill proposing simultaneous polls, have endorsed the constitutionality of the “one nation, one election” concept but have raised concerns over its various aspects, including the power given to the Election Commission, and offered suggestions.

Former CJI D Y Chand- rachud, in his opinion submitted to the Joint Committee of Parliament, has dismissed the opposition's criticism that the synchronisation of Lok Sabha and state assembly polls violates the Constitution's basic structure, saying the Constitution never man-dated holding national and state elections separately.

However, he has joined another ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi in questioning the “sweeping powers” granted to the Election Commission in the proposed constitutional amendment law “without laying down any guidelines for the exercise of the discretion”, according to the opinion submitted to the parliamentary panel.

Chandrachud and another former CJI J S Kehar are scheduled to appear before the committee headed by BJP MP P P Chaudhary on July 11 so that members can interact with them over the bill's provisions and seek their views on their queries.

Questioning the vast powers the bill seeks to bestow on the EC, Chandrachud said such “unbounded authority” could enable the poll body to curtail or extend the tenure of a state assembly beyond the constitutionally mandated five years, under the retext that simultaneous elections with the Lok Sabha are not feasible. (PTI)