NEW DELHI, March 21 -- Defending the appointment of two new election commissioners (ECs) by a high-level selection panel that excluded the Chief Justice of India, the Centre on Wednesday said the independence of the poll body does not arise from the presence of a member of the judiciary in the selection committee and the pleas just seek to stir up a political controversy on "bare, unsupported and pernicious statements".

The affidavit filed by the Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice before the Supreme Court, refuted the petitioners' claims of executive overreach and encroachment on the Election Commission's autonomy.

Retired IAS officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were appointed as the two ECs last week ...