SC to Take Into Account Plea Seeking to Stop Center from Designating New ECs

On Monday, the Supreme Court said that it would take into consideration the filing of an early listing petition to prevent the Center from designating new election commissioners in accordance with a 2023 statute, the contents of which have previously been contested in the highest court.

Following the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, there are now two openings for election commissioners.

“Write a message via email. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, together with Justices JB Pardiwla and Manoj Misra, said, “We shall see.”

Senior counsel Vikas Sigh and advocate Varun Thakur, who were representing Congress politician Jaya Thakur, brought forth the appeal for an urgent listing. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Terms of Service) Act, 2023, has been contested by the local Congress leader.

In her case, Thakur told the court that “one member of the Election Commission, namely Arun Goel, gave his resignation on March 9, 2024, which has been accepted by the President” while her petition was pending, with notice sent on January 12.

The high-level committee headed by the prime minister will convene on March 15 to finalize the nominations of the new election commissioners. Goel tendered his resignation on Friday morning, only a few days before the poll panel is supposed to reveal the Lok Sabha election timetable. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on Saturday, and the Union Law Ministry made the announcement public.

Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, is now the only person remaining on the election commission.