Parliament to consider amendments to Constitution, RPI Act: ECI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) stated on Monday that it is up to Parliament to examine amendments to the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act (RPI) in order for the country to have simultaneous elections.

The remarks came during the hearing of a public interest lawsuit (PIL) before the Delhi High Court, which sought a direction to ECI to investigate the possibility of holding Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies elections concurrently in order to save money and personnel.
Advocate Sidhant Kumar, counsel for the ECI, stated that it is for the Parliament to look into the problem and recommend revisions to the Constitution and the RPI for simultaneous elections to be held across the nation.

Advocate Sidhant Kumar also objected to the petitioner’s prayer for a direction to the ECI to determine the feasibility of holding elections on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, claiming that a Supreme Court Constitution Bench had already ruled that the schedule of elections is at the sole discretion of the ECI.

After reviewing the arguments, the Delhi High Court today directed the Election Commission (EC) to investigate a petitioner’s claim.

Advocate Sidhant Kumar also objected to the petitioner’s prayer for a direction to the ECI to determine the feasibility of holding elections on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, claiming that a Supreme Court Constitution Bench had already ruled that the schedule of elections is at the sole discretion of the ECI.

After reviewing the arguments, the Delhi High Court today directed the Election Commission (EC) to investigate a petitioner’s claim.

The bench of Justice Satish Chander Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad today said, “We know our limitation, the prayer sought in the petition completely falls under the Election Commission domain. We are not lawmakers.”