The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition challenging the appointment of retired bureaucrat Arun Goel as Election Commissioner. The petition was filed by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, which claimed that the appointment was arbitrary and violated the institutional integrity and independence of the poll panel.
ALSO READ: Huf Hülsbeck and Fürst, established a Tech Centre in Pune, India
The court stated that a Constitution Bench had already examined the issue and made certain observations but had refused to quash Mr. Goel’s appointment. In March, the Constitution Bench had ruled that Election Commissioners will be appointed by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India, with the provision that if there is no Leader of Opposition, the single largest opposition party would be on the panel. The order remains in effect until a law is made by Parliament.
Arun Goel, a retired IAS officer, was appointed as Election Commissioner in November last year. The Supreme Court had questioned the haste in his appointment at that time. He is in line to be the next Chief Election Commissioner in 2025, when the term of the current Chief Election Commissioner ends.
