Appointment of Election Commissioners

The Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 made under clause (3) of article 77 of the Constitution and nature of cases mentioned against serial number 22 of the Third Schedule to the aforesaid Rules and Rule 8 thereof contain the procedure for appointment, resignation and removal of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law & Justice said that the Government has been receiving suggestions/ opinions from the public from time to time and also from the Election Commission of India regarding appointment of Election Commissioners and Chief Election Commissioner. Recently, Shri L.K. Advani, Chairman of Bhartiya Janta Party and Shri Gurudas Das Gupta, Member of Parliament, have also suggested constitution of a collegium/ committee comprising Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha for the selection of Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. The Minister said that the existing procedure has been followed to fill up the vacancy of Election Commissioner.