New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday termed the Supreme Court's landmark verdict which ruled a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India would appoint the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners until a new law is framed as a "democratic victory".

Banerjee tweeted, "Supreme Court’s landmark order is a democratic victory! We welcome the decision of the Constitution Bench on the appointment of Election Commissioners and Chief Election Commissioner.

"Will of the people prevails over the ill-fated attempts of the oppressive forces!"

A five-judge bench led by Justice K M Joseph noted lacuna in the process of appointment poll panel under Article 324 of the Constitution, saying the EC should remain aloof from all sorts of interference by the Executive.

The Supreme Court passed the ruling on a batch of petitions filed by Anoop Barnwal, Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, NGO- Association for Democratic Reforms and Dr Jaya Thakur seeking an independent mechanism for appointment of CEC and ECs.

"The CEC and ECs will be selected by a panel comprising the PM, LoP/leader of the single largest party & the CJI until parliament brings a law in this regard," the Supreme Court said, in its ruling today."

"A vulnerable EC would result in an insidious situation," the bench said, adding democracy can succeed only if all stakeholders work on to maintain purity of the election process to reflect the will of the people.

"A person in state of obligation to the State cannot have an independent frame of mind," the bench added.