By NSB.News
With the enactment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the process for selecting the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) will now include a broader consultation. The current CEC, Rajiv Kumar (Retd IAS: 1984: JH), is set to complete his tenure on February 18, 2025, and the Law Ministry will soon begin the process to find his successor.
Out of the two current Election Commissioners — Gyanesh Kumar (Retd IAS: 1988: KL) and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu (Retd IAS: 1988: UK) — Gyanesh Kumar remains a potential candidate for the top post. As per Sections 6 and 7 of the new Act, the Ministry of Law will form a Search Committee, chaired by the Union Law Minister, which will prepare a panel of five names for consideration by the Selection Committee. This Selection Committee, comprising the Prime Minister, a Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, can choose from this panel or opt for “any other person” outside of the Election Commission.
The process outlined in Section 6 of the Act governs the appointment of the CEC and other Election Commissioners. While Gyanesh Kumar could still be in the running for the position, the Act allows the Selection Committee to consider candidates from outside the Election Commission. Section 5 of the Act further specifies that the candidates must be current or former Secretary-level officers.
As the Law Ministry sets the wheels in motion, the selection process promises to be a significant shift towards a more inclusive and consultative approach in determining the leadership of the Election Commission.