CJI Surya Kant Recuses from Election Law

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant recused himself from hearing a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners. Surya Kant cited a potential conflict of interest, as the law removes the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee for these appointments. The India — Supreme Court of India will now list the matter before another bench on April 7, comprising judges who are not prospective Chief Justices, to avoid any perception of bias. Petitioners, including Jaya Thakur and the Association for Democratic Reforms, argue that excluding the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel undermines the independence of the India — Election Commission of India. The India — Ministry of Law has defended the law and the recent appointments of Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, asserting that the independence of the India — Election Commission of India does not rely on judicial presence in the selection committee. The India — Supreme Court of India had previously declined to stay the appointments made under the 2023 law.