CJI Sanjeev Khanna recuses himself from the matter related to the appointment of CEC and EC, know the whole matter

New Delhi: Supreme Court Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna has taken an important decision. he/she has recused himself from hearing the petitions challenging the exclusion of the CJI from the committee constituted for the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (EC).
This panel elects the CEC and ECs. Earlier, a bench headed by DY Chandrachud had ruled that the CJI, the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha would be in this panel.

However, the Central Government later enacted a law through Parliament to include a minister nominated by the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister and the LoP in this panel. Petitions were filed against this new law, which effectively excludes the CJI. The main argument is that the new selection panel has a 2:1 ratio in favor of the government, making it unbalanced.

The CJI, who was part of the bench along with Justice Sanjay Kumar at the beginning of the hearing in this case, told the lawyers of those who filed the PIL that he/she cannot hear the petitions. CJI Sanjiv Khanna was sitting on the bench along with Justice Sanjay Kumar. he/she told the petitioners’ lawyers that he/she could no longer hear these petitions.

This case will now be listed before the second bench after winter vacation. Senior advocate Gopal Shankaranarayanan and advocate Prashant Bhushan said the previous bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna had passed interim orders in the case. Justice Khanna has been sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice after the retirement of former CJI DY Chandrachud.

Justice Khanna said that now these cases will be listed before some other bench after the winter vacation. Several people, including an NGO, have challenged the validity of Section 7 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. he/she has also demanded a ban on the operation of this section.