Chief Election Commissioner
EVMs in country absolutely safe, not being tampered with: CEC Gyanesh Kumar
CEC stated that wherever democracy was present, electoral rolls and election processes were different, and in some countries, electronic voting systems were used
EC holds nearly 5K meets with political representatives at various levels
Seeking to resolve the issues of political parties, the Election Commission has held nearly 5,000 meetings with their representatives at different levels across the country. In a span of 25 days, a total of 4,719 meetings were held, including 40 by state chief electoral officers (CEOs), 800 by district election officers, and 3,879 by electoral registration officers. The process involved engagements with over 28,000 representatives of political parties nationwide, the Election Commission (EC) said on Tuesday. The decision to hold the meetings was taken at a recent conference of CEOs held here. The engagements were aimed to resolve any pending issues by the concerned competent authority at different levels. An action taken report has been sought from all the states for further assessment. Any issue, if unresolved within the existing legal framework, will be taken up by the poll panel.
Voter list updates to be strengthened with birth, death records: EC
Amid a debate on the purity of electoral rolls, the Election Commission said on Thursday that the regular updating process of the voter list will be strengthened in close coordination with the birth and death registration authorities. Technical consultations between the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and experts of the EC will begin soon on voter list-Aadhaar linkage, it said, adding that though an elector can only vote in the assigned polling booth and nowhere else, the poll body has resolved to remove duplicates countrywide and end a decades-long issue within three months. "Regular updation of the voter list shall be strengthened in close coordination with the birth and death registration authorities," the EC said in a statement. In the EC's interactions with political parties, it was clarified that any inclusion or deletion in the draft elector list is governed by the process of appeals under relevant legal provisions for filing claims and objections available t
SC fixes April 16 for hearing pleas against appointment of CEC, ECs
The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed April 16 for hearing a batch of pleas challenging the appointment of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners (EC) under the 2023 law. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh fixed the date for hearing the pleas after advocate Prashant Bhushan said the matter is listed at number 38 and is not likely to reach for hearing during the course of the day. Bhushan requested an urgent hearing of the matter, saying it goes to the root of democracy and the issue is covered by the 2023 Constitution bench verdict. Justice Kant said the court understands all these arguments but a lot of urgent matters are listed every day. "We will fix it on April 16, so that the matter is finally heard," the bench said. Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, said the matter involved a short legal question -- whether the 2023 Constitution bench verdict should be followed for the appointment of the CEC an
CEC Gyanesh Kumar takes bold steps to resolve long-pending election issues
For the first time in decades, ECI has officially invited suggestions from all National and State-recognized political parties within the legal framework by April 30, 2025
CEC calls for discussion on linking of EPIC and Aadhaar on March 18
Election Commission of India (ECI) has invited suggestions from all national and state political parties by April 30, to address any unresolved electoral issues
Gyanesh Kumar takes over as CEC, Vivek Joshi as Election Commissioner
Kumar stated that in accordance with the Constitution, the electoral laws and rules issued therein, the Election Commission always stood with the voters
Meet Gyanesh Kumar, India's Chief Election Commissioner and his tasks ahead
Gyanesh Kumar is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer from the 1988 batch of the Kerala cadre
SC set to hear pleas on CEC, EC appointments under 2023 law on Feb 19
The government appointed Gyanesh Kumar as CEC on Monday, making him the first under the new law, with his term lasting until Jan 26, 2029, ahead of the Lok Sabha poll schedule announcement
'Hastily' taken decision: Congress criticises Centre's CEC appointment
The announcement of Kumar's appointment came shortly after the selection panel, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposed his name
'Disrespectful': Rahul Gandhi slams 'midnight decision' on CEC appointment
Rahul Gandhi also slammed the Centre for removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, a move that he claims violates a Supreme Court ruling
Rahul Gandhi crticises Amit Shah over new CEC's midnight appointment
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said it is "disrespectful" and "discourteous" for the prime minister and home minister to have made a midnight decision to select the new CEC when the process of selection is being challenged in the Supreme Court. The government late on Monday night appointed Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), hours after the meeting of the prime minister-led selection committee in which the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha asked the government to defer the meeting in view of the Supreme Court hearing in the matter. Gandhi also presented a dissent note to the panel, of which Home Minister Amit Shah is also a member. "During the meeting of the committee to select the next Election Commissioner, I presented a dissent note to the PM and HM, that stated: The most fundamental aspect of an independent Election Commission free from executive interference is the process of choosing the Election Commissioner and Chief Election Commissioner," .
Gyanesh Kumar becomes CEC: How the appointment process has changed
Here's all you need to know about the changed process of selection of Chief Election Commissioner and issues surrounding it
Haste decision taken to avoid SC's scrutiny: Cong on CEC's appointment
Soon after the Centre notified the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the chief election commissioner on Monday, the Congress said the hastily-taken decision shows that the government is keen on circumventing the Supreme Court's scrutiny and getting the appointment done before a clear order kicks in. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said in a hasty midnight move, the government has notified the appointment of the new CEC. "This goes against the spirit of our Constitution, and what has been reiterated by the Supreme Court in many cases -- for the electoral process to have sanctity, the CEC must be an impartial stakeholder," Venugopal said in a post on X. The amended law dealing with the appointment of election commissioners has removed the chief justice of India (CJI) from the CEC selection panel and the government ought to have waited until the apex court's hearing in the matter on Wednesday (February 19) before selecting the officer, he said. "Their decision to hastily hold t
Outgoing CEC calls for early verdicts on poll cases, regulation of freebies
CEC Rajiv Kumar on Monday lamented that hearing of long-pending cases questioning electoral processes "fuel distrust" that petitioners intend to create and said it would be good if such proceedings are scheduled with due consideration to the election period. "This is a specific expectation of India's esteemed constitutional courts (the Supreme Court and 25 high courts)," Kumar, who demits office on February 18, said in his farewell address. He also said that the Election Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing concerns surrounding unchecked freebies and overpromising manifestos. "While the matter related to freebies is currently sub-judice, and I hope for a timely decision from the court, it is imperative in the interim that political promises are backed by clear disclosures on their financial viability and their effect on the fiscal health of the state," he said. Kumar also stressed the need to have a totaliser system to ensure confidentiality in polling ...
Gyanesh Kumar becomes first CEC appointed under new rule: Law ministry
PM Modi-led selection committee has appointed Gyanesh Kumar as India's next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), replacing Rajiv Kumar, who retires on Tuesday upon reaching the age of 65
Cong claims centre wants to control EC, asks govt to hold CEC appointment
The Congress on Monday asked the government to defer its decision on the new chief election commissioner till the Supreme Court hearing on a petition challenging the constitution of the selection panel. The Congress' side was put forth by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi during the meeting of the selection panel chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said. The meeting took place at the South Block office of the prime minister. Home Minister Amit Shah is the third member of the selection panel. Addressing a press conference soon after the meeting, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said that by removing the chief justice of India from the selection committee, the government has made it clear it wants control and not to preserve the credibility of the Election Commission. Singhvi did not disclose anything on what transpired in the meeting apart from saying that Gandhi attended it. The selection committee is learnt to have recommended the name of the next CEC to
Rajiv Kumar's term ends Feb 18, new election body chief to be named soon
A selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet early next week to finalise the name of the next chief election commissioner, sources said on Friday. The panel also comprises the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and a Union Cabinet minister nominated by the prime minister. The panel could meet either on Sunday or Monday ahead of the retirement of incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on February 18. It will recommend a name from among the candidates shortlisted by a search committee. The president will then appoint the next CEC based on the recommendation. After Rajiv Kumar, Gyanesh Kumar is the senior-most election commissioner. His tenure is till January 26, 2029. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu is the other election commissioner. So far, the senior-most election commissioner (EC) was elevated as CEC following the retirement of the incumbent. However, after a new law on appointments of the CEC and ECs came into force last year
