Days after Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned from the post ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, a plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday (March 11) to restrain the Centre from appointing Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. The plea was filed citing the Sections 7 and 8 of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and terms of Office Act 2023. Sections 7 and 8 lay down the procedure for the appointment of ECI members.
What did the SC say?
The Supreme Court on Monday said that it will consider submission for early listing of a petition seeking to restrain the Centre from appointing new election commissioners as per a 2023 law, the provisions of which have already been challenged in the apex court.
Two vacancies of election commissioners have arisen following the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel and Anup Chandra Pandey's retirement.
“Send an email. We will see,” said the bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwla and Manoj Misra.
Earlier, sources said that the appointment of two commissioners in the Election Commission Of India will be made by March 15. The two positions in the poll panel were created after the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the surprise resignation of Arun Goel.
The plea in the top court also sought direction to appoint member of Election Commission as per Supreme Court judgment which had directed the constitution of a committee consisting of the CJI, the PM, and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha for appointment.
What did the petitioner say?
Petitioner Jaya Thakur said, "I have filed a petition that they should be restrained and the appointment of all Election Officers should be done in a transparent manner. Also, a committee should be formed which should have the Prime Minister, LoP and Chief Justice, so that it can be done in a transparent manner..."
Arun Goel resigns
Days before the schedule of Lok Sabha elections be announced, Goel, one of two commissioners of poll panel on Friday morning, resigned triggereing political outrage. Goel's resignation leaves Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as the sole member of the poll authority.
His resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday and the Law Ministry issued a notification to announce it. Pandey had demitted office on February 14 on attaining the age of 65 years.
Goel did not attend the crucial meeting between the EC and top home ministry and railway officials to firm up deployment and movement of central forces across India for poll duty.
Goel was a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre. He had joined the Election Commission in November 2022. His tenure was till December 5, 2027, and he would have become Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February next year.
(With inputs from agencies)
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