The next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the country will be Dnyanesh Kumar. His name was approved on Monday in the meeting of the selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after which the Law Ministry announced his name after getting approval from the President. But the Congress has raised questions about the process of making Gyanesh Kumar the next Chief Election Commissioner. In such a situation, it is important to know why the Congress is questioning the appointment of Election Commissioner, what is the objection to the Congress? ….
First know what happened in the meeting …
Rajiv Kumar is retiring from the post of Chief Election Commissioner on February 18. In such a situation, a three -member panel meeting was held on Monday regarding the selection of the new CEC. Apart from PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were also involved. The name of Gyanesh Kumar was approved in this meeting. But Rahul Gandhi asked the government to postpone the appointment of CEC until the Supreme Court decides on the petitions challenging the new appointment process. Now let us know what the case is pending in the Supreme Court.
Modi government had changed the law
Explain that the Central Government had passed a law from Parliament last year and kept the Chief Justice of India out of the panel appointing the Chief Election Commissioner. Earlier, the Chief Election Commissioner was appointed on the basis of seniority and the selection committee also consisted of the Chief Justice. But the central government had changed this law. Now CEC and EC are appointed under the provisions of the appointment (appointment, terms of service and duration of the office) Act 2023.
The opposition is the attacker for keeping the Chief Justice out of the appointment process of CEC. Many opposition parties, including the Congress, have alleged that this move of the central government will end transparency. A case has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding exclusion of the Chief Justice and this new law of the Center.
Now know why Rahul expressed objection
In the meeting of the selection committee headed by PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi expressed his disagreement over the appointment of the new CEC. He said that this appointment process is against the spirit of the order of the apex court. Rahul Gandhi also submitted a protest letter. It was said by the Congress that the Supreme Court is going to hear the petitions challenging the decision to keep the CJI out of the Panel appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner on February 19. Therefore, the meeting to select the new CEC could have been held after the decision of the apex court came.
Also read: IAS of Kerala cadre, the new CEC Dnyanesh Kumar has also been a representative of the center in the Ram Mandir Trust
Congress said the threat to the constitution
The Congress said in its statement- We were hopeful that the selection panel headed by PM Modi would move forward by ignoring the demand/objection of the opposition leader. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi said, “By trying to remove or keep the Chief Justice of India out … the government has made it clear that they want their control over constitutional institutions and do not want to allow credibility.” KC Venugopal said that it is against the spirit of the Constitution.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi did not agree with the appointment of new CEC, PM Modi-Amit Shah gave this reason
Now know who is Dnyanesh Kumar
Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988 batch IAS officer Gyanesh Kumar, was born on 27, January 1964 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. He did his early studies from Queens College, Varanasi and Calvin Talukdar College in Lucknow. After this, B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur, Post Graduation in Business Finance from ICFAI and Post Graduation in Environmental Economics from Harvard University. He was the Assistant Collector of Ernakulam in Kerala, Deputy-Collectors of Adour, Managing Director of Kerala State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, Municipal Commissioner of Cochin Municipal Corporation. Along with this, he served in many positions.
He retired as Cooperative Secretary, Government of India on 31 January 2024 and was appointed as Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India on 14 March 2024.