Election commission (ECI) ,Comptroller and auditor general (CAG) and judiciary are called as ‘Bulwarks of Indian constitution’ and thus independence is sine qua non.

Constitutional safeguards for independence

Appointment

1. Judiciary – Collegium system
2. ECI – select committee (PM + union minister + leader of opposition)

Removal

1. Judges, CAG and chief election commissioner – By President on the advice of parliament
2. grounds – mentioned in constitution
3. Members of ECI – by President only on advice of chief election commissioner.

Financial independence

1. Expenses of judiciary and office of CAG – charged on consolidated fund of India.

Challenges and debates surrounding autonomy of these bodies

1. Judicial independence vs checks and balances
   • National Judicial appointments commission (NJAC) (99th CAA) declared unconditional.
2. Transparency
   • CAG Appointment – entirely by executive
3. Dependency on executive and legislature
   • ECI has no independent secretariat
   • No fix tenure of election Commissioners.
   • expenses of ECI are not charged on CFI.

Way Forward

1. appointment of CAG – should be on the lines of ECI rules 2023 – select committee
2. Expenses of ECI should be charged on CFI.
3. NJAC should be reconsidered with required modifications.

Conclusion

Above mentioned reforms are important to ensure that constitutional bodies can properly function as 4th branch institutions.