A public notice in several mainstream newspapers last week sought public suggestions on ‘One Nation, One Election’ by January 15 – via email, on the high-level committee’s website, or through post. But the email address it mentioned was incorrect.
The notice by the high-level committee, led by former president Ram Nath Kovind, sought suggestions to make “appropriate changes in the existing legal administrative framework to enable simultaneous elections in the country.” It was published on January 5 in major newspapers such as Hindustan Times and Dainik Jagran.
Emails sent to sc-hlc@gov.in by Newslaundry bounced back with an automated message that said, “Address not found. Your message wasn't delivered to sc-hlc@gov.in because the address couldnt be found or is unable to receive email.”
The correct email address, se-hlc@gov.in, can be found on One Nation, One Election’s website, at the bottom of the page and on the ‘contact us’ section of the website.
Newslaundry has emailed the committee on its correct email address, asking if they were aware of the error, if they are rectifying it in any way, and why only 10 days were given for the public to make suggestions. This copy will be updated once a response is received.
The notice said that the committee was required to make recommendations for creation of an appropriate legal and administrative framework for holding simultaneous elections on a permanent basis, identification of necessary amendments to the Constitution and related election laws, preparation of common electoral rolls, logistics such as EVMs/VVPATs, etc.
Meanwhile, CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury wrote to the committee on Monday, calling the One Nation, One Election plan “inherently anti-democratic” and saying that it “negates” fundamental principles of federalism. The CPI (M) leader also said the “agenda and purpose” of the committee was “pre-decided and predestined”.
High-level committee
One Nation, One Election has been a prominent poll promise of the BJP since 2014.
Ever since the committee was constituted by the Centre on September 2, 2022, it has held two meetings and invited suggestions from political parties.
The committee also includes Home Minister Amit Shah, former Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap, Harish Salve, 15th Finance Commission chairperson N K Singh, and former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari. Congress Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was included in the committee, but resigned soon after its formation.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is a special invitee who can attend meetings, while Law Secretary Nitin Chandra is set to be the secretary to the panel.
Elections to Lok Sabha and all state assemblies were held simultaneously every five years from 1951 and 1967. The process was discontinued soon after, after states were reorganised, new states were formed, and legislative assemblies were dissolved.
The Election Commission’s annual report in 1983 suggested reverting back to simultaneous elections. The Law Commission report also referred to this in 1999.
In 2015, the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s 79th Report recommended simultaneous elections for Parliament and state assemblies. The ECI also backed the idea in 2015, as did the Law Commission of India in 2018.
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