Parliamentary panel scraps Supreme Court visit over separation of powers concerns

A parliamentary panel tasked with scrutinising legislation on simultaneous elections has withdrawn plans to meet with the Chief Justice of India and other sitting judges following objections from the Opposition benches. Opposition lawmakers contended that any direct engagement between the parliamentary committee and the judiciary regarding proposed legislation could create an appearance of institutional overlap and potentially undermine the independence of either branch of government. The committee had proposed the visit to solicit the judiciary's perspective on the proposed constitutional amendment and related legislative framework. However, the Opposition's intervention prompted the panel to reconsider the engagement, citing the need to preserve the autonomy and integrity of both institutions under India's constitutional design. The separation of powers principle, a cornerstone of India's constitutional structure, mandates that Parliament and the judiciary maintain operational and decisional independence from one another. The simultaneous elections proposal has been a subject of sustained debate, with various stakeholders raising concerns about its constitutional implications and practical feasibility. The committee is expected to continue its deliberations through alternative channels.