Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and senior advocate Harish Salve are set to depose before a parliamentary committee discussing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal. The panel has scheduled meetings on March 11 and 17 to interact with legal experts on the subject. Their insights are expected to shape discussions on electoral reforms in India.
Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and senior lawyer Harish Salve are set to testify before the joint Parliamentary committee (JPC) examining the ‘One Nation One Election (ONOE)’ bill on March 11 and March 17.
Joining Gogoi at the session on March 11 will be Justice Rajendra Menon, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and Chairperson of the Armed Forces Tribunal. Justice Ajit Prakash Shah, former Chairman of the 20th Law Commission of India and former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, will address the panel on March 17.
The agenda for the JPC’s meetings on March 11 and 17 is primarily focused on “interaction with legal experts.”
Gogoi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2020, a year after retiring as Chief Justice in November 2019. His tenure at the Supreme Court, which lasted about 13 months, was marked by various controversies.
During the third JPC meeting, former Chief Justice U.U. Lalit expressed concerns that the bill might not withstand a legal challenge in the Supreme Court. Lalit proposed several recommendations, including implementing simultaneous elections in a phased approach.
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He noted that while the idea of conducting simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections is appealing in theory, several issues must be resolved for effective execution.
Alongside Lalit, former Law Commission chairperson Ritu Raj Awasthi attended the meeting and supported the bill, asserting that it aligns with the basic structure of the Constitution and does not violate constitutional principles or undermine federalism.
In contrast, many Opposition members voiced their criticisms of the bill, arguing that the “one nation, one election” policy could weaken democracy by altering the tenures of legislatures and infringing on citizens’ rights.
One Nation, One Election (ONOE) is a plan to hold Lok Sabha (Parliament) and State Assembly elections together across India. This would reduce how often elections happen. The goal is to make governance smoother, save money on elections, and avoid delays in government work due to election rules.
The government has been discussing this idea for years and has set up a committee to check if it is possible. However, getting all political parties to agree is a big challenge.
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