A large section of the media has "abdicated its role and become partisan", observed the Supreme Court on Thursday while passing a landmark verdict restricting the government’s powers to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
A five-judge constitution bench was hearing petitions seeking an independent mechanism for appointment of the top EC officials and had reserved its judgment. In a unanimous verdict on Thursday, the court ruled that these appointments will be made on the suggestions of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. It noted that these appointments need to “be insulated from the executive interference”.
