Panel to consult legal experts on simultaneous elections

The parliamentary committee examining the bill for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections will hear from Attorney General R Venkatramani and former Delhi High Court Chief Justice D N Patel. This meeting is expected to happen on Tuesday. To gather more expert opinions, the committee is extending its tenure. Originally, it was set to finish its work by the end of the parliamentary session on April 4. The panel, led by BJP MP P P Chaudhary, will now take more time to complete its discussions. So far, the committee has consulted several prominent legal experts, including former Supreme Court Chief Justices U U Lalit and Ranjan Gogoi. They have been discussing various aspects of the proposed law. Opposition members have been focusing their questions on the constitutionality of the amendment bill. They are trying to challenge the government's reasons for wanting simultaneous elections. The committee currently has 38 members, plus two special invitees.