Tue Feb 18 09:04:12 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court to Prioritize Hearing on Election Commissioner Appointments
**New Delhi, February 18, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India will prioritize hearing pleas challenging the appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) on February 19th. The appointments were made under a 2023 law that excluded the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection panel, a move criticized as undermining the independence of the Election Commission.
The court’s decision follows arguments from petitioners, including the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), who contend the new law contradicts a 2023 Supreme Court verdict mandating a selection panel including the CJI, Prime Minister, and Leader of the Opposition. The petitioners argue that the exclusion of the CJI renders the appointments susceptible to executive influence, jeopardizing the fairness and independence of elections.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing an NGO, argued that the government’s actions “made a mockery of democracy” by disregarding the earlier court ruling. The court has previously acknowledged the potential consequences of acting before a final decision, stating the matter will be decided “on merit and finally.”
The appointments in question include Gyanesh Kumar as the new CEC, whose term runs until January 26, 2029, and Vivek Joshi as an Election Commissioner. These appointments were made under the contested Section 7 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. The ADR’s plea specifically challenges the validity of this section.
The Supreme Court’s February 19th hearing is expected to address the legality of the appointments and the constitutionality of the 2023 law. The outcome will have significant implications for the independence of the Election Commission and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
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