Overview

• All three former chief justices have affirmed that synchronising national and state polls does not breach the basic structure of India’s Constitution.
• They cautioned that the amendment grants the Election Commission broad discretionary powers that lack defined guidelines or checks.
• D Y Chandrachud and J S Kehar will appear before the joint committee on July 11 to elaborate on their written opinions.
• U U Lalit advised a staggered implementation of simultaneous elections to protect full legislative terms and avoid legal challenges.
• The justices pressed Parliament to tighten campaign finance rules to prevent wealthier parties from dominating synchronized cycles.