‘One Nation One Election’ Is Unconstitutional, Says Former Law Panel Chief AP Shah

On Monday, former Delhi High Court chief justice AP Shah submitted a 12-page note before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the ‘One Nation One Election’ Bill, asserting that the proposed legislation is unconstitutional, and violative of democratic principles and the federal structure.

Meanwhile, Harish Salve, a senior advocate who appeared before the panel argued that the proposed law meets the constitutional requirements.

A former law commission chairman faulted the bill on several counts, including the power given to the Election Commission to recommend postponing state assembly polls.

However, Salve rejected the arguments that the one-nation-one-election (ONOE) bills fly in the face of the Constitution’s basic structure and federal principles.