According to a government statement, the panel decided to invite the Law Commission and political parties to make suggestions on the issue.
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The Law Commission of India is set to submit a report recommending simultaneous elections in the country. The Indian Express has learnt that the Commission is likely to frame tentative timelines for simultaneous polls for the 2024 and 2029 cycles.
The report by the 22nd Law Commission, which will be submitted to the Law Ministry, will be one of three — the other two reports are on the minimum age of consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and recommendation of a law to provide for online filing of First Information Reports.
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The Commission’s report is set to be submitted days after the government, citing “national interest”, formed a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to “examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections” to Lok Sabha, state Assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.
On September 23, the panel chaired by Kovind held its first meeting which was attended by committee members Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, former Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chairman of the Fifteenth Finance Commission N K Singh, former secretary-general of Lok Sabha Subhash C Kashyap and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari.
Explained
The swirling debate
Holding simultaneous elections is an issue that has been looked into by Law Commissions and Parliamentary committees in the past. The Congress and several Opposition parties have rejected the idea, calling it an attack on federalism.
According to a government statement, the panel decided to invite the Law Commission and political parties to make suggestions on the issue.
In 2018, the 21st Law Commission headed by Justice B S Chauhan (retired), in a draft report, had also recommended the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea.
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However, given “the complexity of the issues involved,” the Commission had said that it was “desirable to have further discussions and examination on the matter, involving all the stakeholders, once again, before making final recommendations to the Government.”
The term of that Commission ended before a final recommendation was made.
The 22nd Law Commission was constituted for a period of three years in February 2020 but its chairperson, Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, was appointed in November 2022.
In February this year, when the Commission’s tenure was set to end, the government extended its term up to August 31, 2024.
Apurva Vishwanath is the National Legal Editor at The Indian Express, where she leads the organization’s coverage of the Indian judiciary, constitutional law, and public policy. A law graduate with a B.A., LL.B (Hons) from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Apurva brings over a decade of specialized experience to her reporting. She is an authority on judicial appointments and the Supreme Court Collegium, providing critical analysis of the country’s legal landscape.
Before joining The Indian Express in 2019, she honed her expertise at The Print and Mint.
Follow her insights on the intersection of law and governance on Twitter ... Read More
Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission.
Expertise
Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats:
Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues.
Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections.
Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production.
Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included:
Culture
Social Justice
Housing and Urban Affairs
The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus).
Trustworthiness
Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More