Selection of New Election Commissioners
Election of New ECs
- Under the new law, a three-member Selection Committee, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, selected the two ECs.
- The Selection Committee chose from a shortlisted panel of six names, shortlisted by a committee headed by the Union Minister for Law and Justice.
History of the Process
- Article 324 of the Constitution vests election superintendence in an Election Commission, which comprises the CEC and other ECs appointed by the President.
- Until October 1989, the EC had only a CEC; multi-member status followed but was rescinded in January 1990.
- A 1991 law fixed service conditions but lacked an appointment process, leaving the President to make appointments.
- Conventionally, the Law Ministry presents a panel to the Prime Minister, who recommends an EC to the President, and senior ECs usually ascend to CEC.
Supreme Court Ruling
- In Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India, a Constitution Bench ruled appointments should involve the PM, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (or the largest opposition party leader), and the CJI.
- Parliament enacted the 2023 Act in response, removing the CJI from the panel and adding a Union Minister.
Criticism
- Critics argue the Act’s exclusion of the CJI from the panel gives the executive a two-to-one majority.
- The government contends the Act maintains the CJI’s role as a stop-gap measure until a permanent law.
Conclusion
- While aiming to formalize the appointment process, preserving the EC’s autonomy is vital for democratic integrity.
Equity Issue in IPCC Reports
IPCC Assessment Reports
- Typically consist of three Working Group reports and one synthesis report, assessing scientific literature on climate change.
- Currently in the Seventh Assessment cycle (AR7).
Accessing Future Scenarios
- Uses Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) to estimate pathways for limiting earth’s surface warming.
- IAMs integrate various disciplines to provide policy-relevant guidelines for climate action.
Study Findings
- Analyzed 556 scenarios in IPCC’s AR6 report, projecting continued disparities in income, energy use, and emissions between developed and developing countries up to 2050.
- Per-capita GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and West Asia projected to remain below global average by 2050.
- Inequities observed in consumption of goods/services and energy/fossil fuels between Global North and South.
- Developing countries forecasted to bear burden of both mitigation action and carbon dioxide removal.
Essentiality of Equity
- UNFCCC enshrines principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
- Recognizes richer countries’ greater capacity to undertake climate action.
- IPCC scenarios often prioritize technical and economic feasibility over equity principles.
- Equity implies developed regions should accelerate towards net negative emissions and share carbon budget with less developed regions.
Conclusion
- IPCC scenarios need to prioritize both equity and environmental sustainability, as emphasized in the study.