The Union government on Saturday announced its eight-member committee to examine the ‘One nation, One election’ proposal for holding simultaneous elections for states and Centre. The panel, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind who is appointed as the Chairman, will include Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and former Rajya Sabha LoP Ghulam Nabi Azad among others. Ex-secretary general of Lok Sabha Subhash C Kashyap and senior advocate Harish Salve are also in the committee that includes Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal as a special invitee.
One Nation, One Election: Panel To Make Recommendations For Constitutional Amendments, Solution In Scenarios Of Hung Assembly
According to the resolution released by the Union Ministry of Law, the panel will examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), State Legislative Assemblies, Municipalities, and Panchayats, "keeping in view the existing framework under the Constitution of India and other statutory provisions, and for that purpose, examine and recommend specific amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the rules made thereunder and any other law or rules which would require amendments for the purpose of holding simultaneous elections."
It would also examine and recommend if the amendments to the Constitution would require ratification by the States, recommend a possible solution in a scenario of simultaneous elections emerging out of a hung House, adoption of no-confidence motion, defection, or any such other event, the ministry mentioned.
The central committee will suggest a framework for synchronisation of elections and "specifically, suggest the phases and time frame within which simultaneous elections may be held if they cannot be held in one go and also suggest any amendments to the Constitution and other laws in this regard and propose such rules that may be required in such circumstances".
It will "recommend necessary safeguards for ensuring the continuity of the cycle of simultaneous elections and recommend necessary amendments to the Constitution, so that the cycle of simultaneous elections is not disturbed; examine the logistics and manpower required, including EVMs, VVPATs, etc., for holding such simultaneous
elections; examine and recommend the modalities of use of a single electoral roll and electoral identity cards for identification of voters in elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), State Legislative Assemblies, Municipalities and Panchayats", the resolution stated.
Headquartered in New Delhi, The high-level committee shall commence functioning immediately and make recommendations at the earliest. It is at liberty to decide its own procedure for conducting its meetings and other relevant functions and it may hear and entertain all persons, representations, and communications which "in the opinion of the HLC shall facilitate its work and enable it to finalise its recommendations."
"The expenditure of the HLC shall be met through a separate budgetary allocation by the Government under the relevant budget heads of the Ministry of Law and Justice," the law ministry mentioned.
The panel has been constituted ahead of a five-day special session of Parliament called by the Union government. The Parliament had last month adjourned sine die after the monsoon session. It will meet from September 18 to 22 for a special session of which the Modi government has not made public the agenda.
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