Page 3 - Chief Election Commissioner

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

Gyanesh Kumar appointed CEC under new law: What is the new appointment process?

Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as India’s new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) under the new Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.

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

SC to hear pleas challenging new law for CEC, EC appointments on Feb 19

The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed February 19 to hear pleas against the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners under the 2023 law saying if anything happens in the interregnum, the consequences are bound to follow. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was told by advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for an NGO, that earlier the pleas were scheduled to be heard on Wednesday but now they have been listed for hearing on February 19. Bhushan said the urgency in the matter is that Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is scheduled to superannuate on February 18 and the government may appoint the new CEC under the 2023 law, which is under challenge. The bench said, "We are fixing the matter for hearing on February 19. If anything happens in the interregnum, then the consequences are bound to follow." Bhushan, appearing for NGO 'Association for Democratic Reforms', said the apex court registry has informed them that as Justice Kant wa

SC fixes Feb 12 to hear case against CEC, ECs appointments under new law

The Supreme Court on Monday fixed February 12 to hear pleas against the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners under the 2023 law. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said it would decide the issue on merit and finally. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Association for Democratic Reforms NGO, said the matter was listed on February 4 but not likely to be heard due to other matters. Bhushan, who referred to the superannuation of incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on February 18, said the matter required an urgent hearing as it was covered by the 2023 verdict of the Constitution bench. He said the 2023 verdict ruled the election commissioners couldn't only be appointed by the government, but by an independent committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India or else it would be a threat to the electoral democracy. "They have brought an Act by which they have removed t

Delhi HC asks ECI to prevent use of 'vilifying' material in poll campaign

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Election Commission of India to ensure political parties and their candidates did not use any "vilifying" material during election campaigns. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the direction on a PIL alleging spam calls and voice messages were made to public by unknown numbers to vote a particular political party to power to get freebies. The bench disposed of the plea taking note of the proposed action by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the petitioners' complaint. The court said the state election officer, chief election officer and the district election officer were fully empowered and duty-bound to check such messages and advertising material being circulated by political parties and their candidates having the tendency to vilify the atmosphere in elections. Advocate Sidhant Kumar, representing the ECI, said the commission took cognisance of the petitioners' complaint and directed t

Why can't social media platforms block or label fakes, asks CEC Rajiv Kumar

He said election management bodies must devise and adopt a framework to manage these challenges

Next CEC to be appointed per new law; SC to take view on new statute soon

All eyes are on the Supreme Court which will examine the law on appointing members of the Election Commission as its validity has been challenged for not having the chief justice of India as a member of the selection panel. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, which came into force in December 2023, was first used to appoint Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu as Election Commissioners in March 2024 to fill up the vacancies created following the resignation of Arun Goel and retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey. With Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar demitting office on February 18 on attaining the age of 65, the law will be applied for the first time to appoint a CEC. Before the new law on the appointment of CEC and ECs came into force, the election commissioners were appointed by the President on the government's recommendation. And as per convention, the senior-most Election Commissioner was ...

Court's opinion vs legislative power, says SC on CEC, ECs selection

It will be court's opinion versus the legislative power to enact law, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said as it posted the pleas challenging the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners under the 2023 law on February 4. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan was informed by advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing an NGO, the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar was set to superannuate on February 18, and a new CEC would be appointed under the new law, if the court didn't intervene. Bhushan said the top court in its the March 2 2023 verdict set up a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the CJI to appoint the CEC and election commissioners (EC). "However, under the new law the selection committee will comprise the Prime Minister, a union cabinet minister, the Leader of Opposition or the leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha. They have removed CJI from the selection .

Difficult to define a freebie, our 'hands tied': CEC Rajiv Kumar

Delhi elections on Feb 5, counting on Feb 8