Jammu Tawi, March 19 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday scheduled April 16 for hearing a batch of pleas challenging the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) under the 2023 law.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh fixed the date after advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), requested an urgent hearing. Bhushan argued that the matter was crucial for the democracy's foundation and is related to the 2023 Constitution bench verdict.

Bhushan pointed out that the issue revolves around whether the 2023 verdict, which mandates the appointment of the CEC and ECs by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Oppositi...