A PIL before the Supreme Court seeks formation of an independent expert committee, led by a former CJI or apex court judge, to evaluate structural issues in the Election Commission of India’s functioning. The petition also urges a ban on religiously tagged election campaigning.
Supreme Court PIL Seeks Expert Committee on ECI
The Supreme Court has received a public interest litigation (PIL) petition calling for the establishment of an independent expert committee to assess institutional deficiencies in the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The committee, proposed to be chaired by a former Chief Justice of India or a former Supreme Court judge, would conduct a comprehensive review of systemic challenges affecting the autonomy and effectiveness of the poll body.
Filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, the petition highlights growing concerns about the ECI’s independence, transparency, and enforcement mechanisms during electoral processes. It specifically seeks directions to the ECI to implement an "absolute prohibition" on the use of religious tags, symbols, or rhetoric in election campaigning, arguing that such practices undermine secular principles enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution and threaten free and fair elections.
The plea underscores the need for structural reforms amid allegations of partisanship and inadequate enforcement of model codes of conduct. By advocating judicially supervised expert scrutiny, the petition aims to reinforce public confidence in the electoral system. Practitioners may anticipate heightened judicial engagement with electoral governance, particularly concerning secularism and institutional accountability.
