During a hearing on Thursday, the Supreme Court of India expressed concerns regarding the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) amid the government's appointment process. Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma pointed out that the current selection committee, which includes the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet minister, and the leader of the Opposition, does not ensure true neutrality. Justice Datta specifically questioned the role of the leader of the Opposition, suggesting that their position is largely ornamental and that a Cabinet minister would unlikely oppose the Prime Minister, leading to a biased decision-making process. The court is examining petitions challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which was enacted in December 2023 and excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel. The justices underscored that the law may violate Article 14, which ensures equality before the law. They emphasized the need for a more neutral selection process to uphold the integrity of the electoral system, stating that without democracy, nothing else matters.