In the aftermath of Sonia Gandhi's letter to the Prime Minister, the agenda for the special 5-day session of Parliament beginning September 18 has been announced. In her letter dated September 6, she drew Prime Minister's attention towards nine specific issues in the face of government's failure to disclose the session's agenda.
She wrote, “I must point out that this special session has been convened without any consultation with other political parties. None of us have any idea of its agenda. All we have been communicated is that all five days have been allocated for government business".
The issues she mentioned included unemployment, price rise, inequality, distress of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, farmers' demand for Minimum Support Price, caste census, formation Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the Adani issue, deterioration in inter-state relations, natural disasters, flood, drought, occupation of Indian territory by China, and communal tension in Haryana, and Manipur.
Prior to the introduction of the Bills on Election Commissioners, Advocates, Press and Post Office , there will be discussion on ‘Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings’ will be held in Lok Sabha on 18th September, the first day of Parliament special session, as per Parliamentary Bulletin. The two bills to be taken up in the Lok Sabha and two others to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha. Lok Sabha will engage with The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Press and Registeration of Periodicals Bill, 2023. Rajta Sabha will take up The Post Office Bill, 2023 and The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023.
In the last session the controversial Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill
was tabled in the Rajya Sabha. It seeks to replace the Chief Justice of India with a cabinet minister in the panel for selection of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners. This paves the way for the government to have more control over the appointments of members of the election commission.
The Bill introduction of the Bill by the Law Minister faced bitter opposition from the opposition parties. They have accused the government of "diluting and overturning" the decision of Supreme Court's Constitution Bench.
In March 2023, the Court had ruled that a three-member panel, headed by the prime minister and comprising the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India, will select the CEC and ECs till a law is framed by Parliament on the appointment of these commissioners.
Now the Prime Minister-led panel for the selection of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners will have the power to consider even those not short-listed by the cabinet secretary-led Search Committee according to the bill.
According to Section 6 of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, a Search Committee headed by the cabinet secretary and comprising two other members not below the rank of secretary, having knowledge and experience in matters relating to elections, shall prepare a panel of five persons for consideration of the Selection Committee for appointment as the CEC and ECs.
According to Section 8 (2) of the proposed law, the Selection Committee may also consider any other person than those included in the panel by the Search Committee.
Section 7 (1) of the bill states that the CEC and ECs will be appointed by the president on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, who will be the chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister as members.
The 'tentative list' of the agenda for Parliament's special session from September 18 to 22 is likely to come up for discussion at the all-party meeting on September 17 amidst the possibility of the proposal for introduction of the 'One Nation, One Election' bill.
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