On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India began examining petitions challenging the validity of the CEC and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. This law has replaced the Chief Justice of India (CJI) with a Union Cabinet minister in the selection committee for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other election commissioners, a change that petitioners argue undermines the independence of the Election Commission. The court noted that its 2023 judgment had previously mandated the inclusion of the CJI in this process to fill a legal vacuum, and the petitioners contend that the new law contradicts this ruling. The bench of justices Dipankar Datta and SC Sharma emphasized the importance of the issue and agreed to hear further arguments, as the petitioners claim that the law allows the government too much control over the selection of these critical positions. The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, defended the law, suggesting that criticisms of the selection process do not invalidate its legitimacy. The court has adjourned the matter to continue hearings on Thursday.