Ministry of Law and Justice Constitutes High-Level Committee to Explore Simultaneous Elections
New Delhi, September 2, 2023 – In a landmark resolution, the Ministry of Law and Justice has constituted a High-Level Committee (HLC) to examine the feasibility and modalities of holding simultaneous elections in India. The committee is tasked with delivering its recommendations at the earliest.
Notable Members
The HLC is chaired by Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Former President of India. The committee includes high-ranking officials and experts such as Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Largest Party in Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Shri Sanjay Kothari, Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner.
Objectives and Scope
The primary objective is to analyze the existing constitutional and legislative frameworks and recommend specific amendments that may be needed to facilitate simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, Municipalities, and Panchayats.
Logistical Challenges
The HLC is also mandated to assess logistical and resource-based challenges, including the need for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs).
Legal Aspects
The committee will explore whether constitutional amendments would require ratification by the states and also aims to propose a single electoral roll and identity cards for voters across different types of elections.
Financial Provisions
The functioning of the HLC will be financed through a separate budget allocation provided by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The move aims to reduce the financial burden and logistical challenges posed by the current system of frequent elections, aligning with recommendations from the Law Commission of India and Parliamentary Standing Committees.
