Mumbai: The Union Law Ministry on Monday announced the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. He will take over the role from Rajiv Kumar, who is set to retire on Tuesday upon reaching the age limit of 65.
The appointment follows the provisions of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Office, Terms of Office) Act, 2023.
The selection was made by a committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The panel convened at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block earlier in the day to finalize the decision.
Gyanesh Kumar is the first CEC to be appointed under the new law, which was passed in 2023, replacing the previous system where the Chief Justice of India was part of the selection committee.
The Congress party raised concerns over the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the selection process, arguing that it undermines the credibility of the Election Commission.
Party leader Abhishek Singhvi criticized the government for moving ahead with the appointment despite an impending Supreme Court hearing on the matter scheduled for February 19
.”By removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, the government has made it clear it wants control, not to preserve the credibility of the Election Commission,” Singhvi said at a press conference following the meeting.
He urged the government to postpone the appointment process until after the court hearing to ensure a fair and transparent selection process.
In March 2023, the Supreme Court had ruled in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India that the selection committee for the CEC should include the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India.
However, the government’s new law replaced the Chief Justice with the Union Home Minister, a move that the opposition claims creates a partisan mechanism for appointments.
With Gyanesh Kumar set to assume office, the decision has reignited debates over the independence and transparency of the Election Commission. The upcoming Supreme Court hearing is expected to further shape the conversation surrounding election reforms and institutional integrity in India.
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