New Delhi, Feb 14: A selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will convene on Monday to finalize the appointment of the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), according to sources reported on Friday. This committee includes the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Prime Minister’s official residence, just days before the current CEC, Rajiv Kumar, retires on February 18.
The committee will recommend a candidate from the list of options provided by a search committee. The final appointment will be made by the President based on this recommendation.
Following Rajiv Kumar’s retirement, Gyanesh Kumar is the next senior-most election commissioner, serving until January 26, 2029. The other election commissioner is Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Traditionally, the senior-most election commissioner has been appointed as CEC upon retirement, but a new law—pertaining to the appointments of the CEC and other election commissioners—was implemented last year. This law allows a search committee to shortlist five candidates from among secretary-level officials, which will then be submitted to a prime minister-led panel for the final decision.
In addition to the new CEC, there may also be an appointment for an election commissioner to address the vacancy left by Rajiv Kumar’s retirement. This will be the first instance of the new provisions of the “Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023” being applied for the CEC role, although it was previously used for the appointments of Gyanesh Kumar and Sandhu, who filled vacancies from the retirements of Anup Chandra Pandey and the resignation of Arun Goel.
The law grants the selection committee the authority to propose candidates beyond the initial shortlist provided by the search committee led by the law minister.
As specified in the legislation, the CEC and other election commissioners must be individuals who hold or have held a position equivalent to secretary to the Government of India, possessing integrity and demonstrating experience in election management.
In summary, candidates may include both serving and retired officials at the secretary level. (Agencies)
