SC to hear EC appointment petitions on November 17

A Constitution Bench on Thursday fixed for November 17 the hearing of petitions seeking an “independent mechanism for appointment of Election Commissioners (ECs)” outside the exclusive power of the government. Appearing before the five-judge Bench led by Justice K.M. Joseph, advocate Prashant Bhushan said the selection process should be done by a committee of the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. The petitions were referred to the Constitution Bench despite objections raised by the Centre that the appointment of ECs was “consciously” a part of the executive function of the state.