Lok Sabha Extends Duration for 'One Nation, One Election' Report

The Lok Sabha has approved a motion to extend the report submission deadline of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 'One Nation, One Election.' Key discussions with legal experts and Justices are underway, focusing on the potential constitutional and legal changes proposed by the controversial election synchronization bills.

The Lok Sabha approved a notable motion on Tuesday to extend the timeline for the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to present its report on the contentious 'One Nation, One Election' initiative. With the deadline now pushed to the first day of the last week of the Monsoon Session in 2025, JPC Chairman PP Chaudhary initiated this extension process.

The proposed bills in question are the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. In a crucial meeting scheduled today at 3 p.m., the JPC is set to hear significant input from Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Justice D.N. Patel, the former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and current Chairperson of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

Further scrutiny is scheduled for April 2, where Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice BS Chauhan will present their insights. Previously, the JPC engaged with former Solicitor General Harish Salve and Former Law Commission Chairman Ajit Prakash Shah in discussions aimed at clarifying crucial issues and refining the committee's understanding. A website for public opinion on the bill's clauses is also underway.

(With inputs from agencies.)