Gyanesh Kumar appointed chief election commissioner, a primary by collegium

Gyanesh Kumar was appointed as the brand new Chief Election Commissioner on Monday, within the first such appointment beneath the collegium technique launched after the brand new invoice on the choice course of.

He has succeeded Rajiv Kumar, who held the place since Could 2022.

Kumar, a 1988-batch Kerala cadre IAS officer, has been serving as an Election Commissioner since March final yr.

That is the primary appointment made beneath the brand new regulation, which has changed the Chief Justice with the Dwelling Minister on the choice panel.

Kumar’s title was accepted after a gathering of the panel comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dwelling Minister Amit Shah, and Chief of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

Nonetheless, Congress has opposed the modifications within the appointment course of.

The grand previous celebration urged the Centre to delay the appointment till the Supreme Courtroom hears a plea on February 19 difficult the Centre’s regulation.

An extended tenure until 2029

The brand new CEC is ready to serve till January 26, 2029. His tenure will finish earlier than the following common election.

Kumar will oversee the Bihar Meeting polls this yr and the Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry elections in 2026.

New regulation modifications the dynamics of appointment course of

The Indian authorities launched the Chief Election Commissioner and Different Election Commissioners (Appointment, Circumstances of Service and Time period of Workplace) Invoice in August 2023.

This laws reformed the choice course of for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

Below the brand new regulation, the President can appoint the CEC and ECs primarily based on suggestions from a Choice Committee. This committee includes the Prime Minister, the Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cupboard Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

The invoice changed the Chief Justice of India with a Cupboard Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

The event has sparked issues in regards to the transparency of the appointment course of.