Landmark orders: Kejriwal on Supreme Court verdicts

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hailed the Supreme Court decisions on Thursday on the appointment of election commissioners and matters involving the business empire of industrialist Gautam Adani as landmark orders. The apex court ruled on Thursday that the appointments of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners will be made by the president on the advise of a committee comprising the prime Minister, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and the chief justice of India. In a separate matter, it ordered the setting up of a six-member committee headed by former top court judge AM Sapre to probe the recent share crash of the Adani Group triggered by short-seller Hindenburg Research's fraud allegations and other regulatory aspects related to the stock markets.

"Truly landmark orders by Hon'ble SC on both EC and Adani issues. We welcome both the orders," Kejriwal said in a tweet. Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), headed by Kejriwal, said the apex court judgment on the Adani issue was a "tight slap" on the Narendra Modi government. "This has proved that the Modi government is corrupt and useless," AAP national spokesperson Sanjay Singh told a press conference here. PTI SLB

For a long time, questions were being raised on the functioning of the Election Commission (EC), the AAP's national spokesperson Sanjay Singh told a press conference here, reacting to the apex court's decision. The Supreme Court has ruled that the appointments of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners will be made by the president on the advice of a committee comprising the prime minister, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and the chief justice of India.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph, in a unanimous verdict, held that this norm will continue to hold good till a law on the issue is enacted by Parliament. The apex court said if the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha is not there, the leader of the single-largest opposition party will be in the committee to appoint the chief election commissioner and election commissioners. AAP leader Singh said the Supreme Court's decision is "significant, historic and worth welcoming".

"This will help maintain fairness in the functioning of the EC," the Rajya Sabha member said. He alleged that before announcing poll dates, the EC "waits" for the prime minister and the home minister to "conclude their rallies, public meetings and making announcements". The apex court's decision on the appointment of election commissioners will help strengthen India's democracy and the Constitution, he said. "The government control over the Election Commission will end with the Supreme Court's decision," Singh added. The five-judge Constitution bench also said that the direction on the EC appointments will continue to hold good till a law on the issue is made by Parliament.