Stating that the Election Commission of India must not only be independent but also appear to be so, the Supreme Court Thursday wondered why there can’t be an “independent member” in the three-member panel that picks the Election Commissioners (ECs) when even the committee for selecting the CBI Director has the Chief Justice of India in it. The bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and S C Mishra asked the Centre why put up a show of independence in the matter of selection of ECs by the committee, comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and a Cabinet Minister, when the decision is by a 2:1 majority and the Cabinet minister is a PM pick. “I was just wondering. For a CBI Director, the CJI is there – for maintenance of law and order or you can stretch it to rule of law also. But not for maintaining democracy? Not for ensuring a pure election? We don’t say that the CJI should be there. Why shouldn’t there be an independent member?” Justice Datta said. “Let us be very clear.…