The official notice of the committee states: “The Joint Committee on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty–Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will interact with legal experts.”
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Justice of India, U.U. Lalit, will be one of the key persons to speak before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) set up to review the One Nation One Election (ONOE) Bill. Along with him, four other prominent figures will also give their views in a meeting scheduled for February 25.
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The official notice of the committee states: “The Joint Committee on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty–Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will interact with legal experts.” This means that the panel will take inputs from legal professionals to assess the bill’s impact.
Apart from Justice U.U. Lalit, three others will also share their insights with the committee. These include:
- Niten Chandra – He was part of the high-level panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which initially examined the idea of One Nation One Election.
- E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan – A former Congress Member of Parliament who also served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice.
- Another key legal expert, whose name is yet to be confirmed.
The committee has decided to hear from people across 24 broad categories to gather a variety of perspectives. The discussions will involve:
- Political parties (both national and regional)
- Legal professionals and experts
- Academicians and management experts
- Electronic and engineering specialists (particularly those with expertise in EVMs)
- Film and media personalities
- Labour unions and industry leaders
- Representatives from schools and colleges
- Teachers’ associations
- Professional bodies like chartered accountants
- Think tanks
The panel will also travel to different states to meet stakeholders who may not be able to visit Delhi. Those unable to meet the committee in person will be allowed to submit their views in writing.
This Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was formed during the last winter session of Parliament when the government decided that the ONOE Bill needed detailed scrutiny before being passed.
The One Nation One Election (ONOE) proposal aims to synchronize the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections across India. Supporters argue that this will reduce election costs and administrative burdens, while critics believe it could impact federalism and local governance.
Justice U.U. Lalit was the 49th Chief Justice of India and served for a short tenure in 2022. In 2014, he was directly elevated to the Supreme Court, a rare feat achieved by only seven judges in history.
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His judicial career includes several landmark cases:
- Triple Talaq Verdict (2017) – He was part of the five-judge bench that declared triple talaq unconstitutional and recommended its ban.
- Ram Mandir Case (2019) – He was initially part of the bench hearing the Ayodhya land dispute but later recused himself from the case.
The February 25 meeting will be crucial, as it will allow legal experts and policymakers to discuss the constitutional, administrative, and political challenges related to One Nation One Election.
The committee’s findings will play a key role in shaping the final recommendations before the bill is presented in Parliament for approval.
The JPC’s deliberations are expected to provide a comprehensive analysis of the One Nation One Election Bill by considering views from multiple sectors. The inclusion of prominent figures like Justice U.U. Lalit, Niten Chandra, and E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan indicates that the discussion will be legally sound and well-informed.
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