A heated legal debate is raging in India regarding the "One Nation, One Election" proposal. On Monday, senior advocate Harish Salve and former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, A.P. Shah, presented opposing viewpoints before a parliamentary committee.
New Delhi: The controversy surrounding "One Nation, One Election" continues. Senior advocate Harish Salve supported the proposal, asserting its consonance with the Constitution, while former Delhi High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah highlighted potential legal challenges. Both legal luminaries presented their arguments before the parliamentary committee.
Harish Salve: "Bill is within the Constitutional Framework"
Harish Salve emphatically argued before the committee that the proposed legislation does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution. He contended that the bill would ensure stability and reduce election expenses. According to him, "One Nation, One Election" would strengthen democracy without impacting voter rights.
A.P. Shah: "Bill Weakens the Federal Structure"
Conversely, former Chief Justice A.P. Shah raised serious objections to the bill. He argued that granting the Election Commission the power to postpone state assembly elections goes against the federal structure of the Constitution and democratic principles. Shah expressed concerns that this legislation could pave the way for undue central control over states.
Five-Hour Legal Battle
During this intense five-hour debate, committee members questioned both experts separately. Sources indicate that Harish Salve presented his arguments for approximately three hours, while A.P. Shah's session concluded within two hours. BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary, who chaired the meeting, described it as a "positive discussion".
