India’s Supreme Court Issues ‘Historic’ Order on Election Officer Selection

India’s Supreme Court has ruled that a bipartisan panel, including the leader of the opposition, will be established to select the country’s election commissioners. The panel will also include the prime minister and the chief justice, ending the government’s practice of choosing commissioners. The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority, but opposition parties have accused it of bowing to the demands of the ruling party. The new panel will continue until a parliamentary law is passed. Currently, the president appoints the chief election commissioner and two commissioners for six-year terms. The commissioners are typically former bureaucrats.