00:00It is a landmark ruling and a unanimous verdict by a constitution bench of India's Supreme
00:09Court. It has basically said that the Election Commission of India can no longer be appointed
00:15only at the advice of the government or the Prime Minister, but now has to be appointed
00:19by a committee that comprises of the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, as
00:24well as the Chief Justice of India. Significantly, the court has also said that the Election
00:29Commission will no longer depend on the government for its funds. It will have its own independent
00:33budget and the Election Commissioners can only be removed through a process of impeachment,
00:38which means the government can't just remove them at its whims and fancies. This verdict
00:43is a landmark one because it brings far greater transparency to the appointment of the Election
00:48Commission. It also comes at a critical juncture for the EC, which has in recent years come
00:55under increasing criticism that it is taking decisions that are seen as siding with the
01:00ruling establishment. What does this mean for the future of the Election Commission
01:05and the way elections are conducted in India? Do read the column.
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