'One nation, one election': Amit Shah, Adhir Ranjan, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Kovind-led 8-member panel

High-level committee will examine and recommend specific amendments to Constitution, Representation of the People Act and any other laws and rules which would require amendments for purpose of holding simultaneous elections

From left: Amit Shah, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Ghulam Nabi Azad. PTI file photos

Tribune News Service

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, September 2

The Centre on Saturday notified a High-Level Committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind on ‘One Nation, One Election’ to explore the possibility of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, municipalities and panchayats across India.

The other members of the committee are: Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, noted jurist Harish Salve, former Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh, former Lok Sabha Secretary General and constitutional expert Subhash C Kashyap and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari, a notification issued by the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice said.

Minister of State for Law (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal shall attend the meetings of the committee as a Special Invitee, it said, adding Niten Chandra, Secretary Department of Legal Affairs shall be secretary of the committee.

The panel – which shall be headquartered at New Delhi—has been asked to commence functioning immediately and make recommendations at the earliest.

It has been mandated to “examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, municipalities and panchayats keeping in view the existing framework under the Constitution of India and other statutory provisions, and for that purpose, examine and recommend specific amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of People Act, 1950, the Representation of People Act, 1951 and the rules made thereunder and any other law of rules which would require amendments for the purpose of holding simultaneous elections”.

Notably, it has been asked to examine and recommend if the amendments to the Constitution would require ratification by the states and examine the logistics and manpower required, including EVMs, VVPATs, etc., for holding such simultaneous elections.

The Committee would also “analyse and recommend” a possible solution in a scenario of simultaneous elections emerging out of hung House, adoption of no-confidence motion or defection or any such other event, the notification read.

According to the notification, the committee will hear and entertain all persons, representations and communications which in its opinion could facilitate its work and enable it to finalise its recommendations.

The panel has also been asked to “suggest a framework for synchronisation of elections and specially, suggest the phases and time frame within which simultaneous elections may be held if they cannot be held in one go and also suggest any amendments to the Constitution and other laws in this regard and propose such ruled that may be required in such circumstances”.

According to the terms of reference of the panel, it has also been asked to “recommend necessary safeguards for ensuring the continuity of the cycle of simultaneous elections and recommend necessary amendments to the Constitution, so that the cycle of simultaneous elections is not disturbed”.

It shall also examine and recommend the modalities of use of a single electoral roll and electoral identity cards for identification of voters in elections to the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, municipalities and panchayats, the notification stated.

The notification referred to the Law Commission’s 170th Report of Reforms of the Electoral Laws and the 79th Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on “Feasibility of Holding Simultaneous Election to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies” submitted in 2015.

About The Author

Tribune News Service

The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.