Panel recommends two changes to EC formation bill
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Loading... - Ashoka Kohli
- 26 Jan 2022
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Chairman of the committee Shahiduzzaman Sarker forwarded the report, including changes on the qualification and disqualification of the election commissioners on Wednesday.
Law Minister Anisul Huq introduced the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner Appointment Bill 2022 in parliament on Jan 23. It was forwarded to the committee for scrutiny afterwards, with a deadline to report back in seven days.
The law stipulates that the law minister can now table the bill at any time in the parliament for approval.
Lawmakers will then evaluate public opinions on it, forward it to the selection committee and ask for amendments before it is once again discussed in the parliament later.
The parliament can pass the draft law with the changes recommended by the standing committee or as it is decided by the members. Usually, the parliament gives a nod to the recommendations placed by the committee.
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The bill says an individual must have at least 20 years of work experience in any important government, judicial, semi-government or private job to be recommended as an election commissioner or the chief election commissioner.
The committee suggested adding “autonomous and other jobs” to the provision.
The bill also says a person will be disqualified from the post if they are convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to at least two years in prison.
The standing committee suggested considering any criminal offence for moral turpitude and any jail term as punishment, instead of the minimum two-year sentence, as a disqualification.
The search committee used to form the outgoing and the last commission will be legalised through the proposed new law. Read More…
