New Delhi: The Election Commission is learnt to have on Tuesday pitched for giving equal constitutional protection to all members of the poll body.
At a meeting between chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and top law ministry officials here, the poll body said it wants the government to adopt the same removal procedures for the two Election Commissioners as in case of the chief Election Commissioner.
Besides other senior officials, the CEC was accompanied by Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat at the meeting.
The ministry said to extend constitutional protection to the two ECs, Article 324(5) of the Constitution will have to be amended, sources said.
In its report on electoral reforms submitted in March last year, the Law Commission had proposed extending constitutional protection to the two ECs.
The president appoints chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners after the law ministry initiates the file for their appointment.
The Law Commission had said the appointment of all the Election Commissioners, including the CEC, should be made by the chief in consultation with a three-member collegium or selection committee, consisting of the PM, the leader of the Opposition in the LS and the CJI.
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