Supreme Court Challenged Over Appointment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners

The appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi has been challenged in the Supreme Court. Filed by petitioner Suri Pasala, the plea alleges that these crucial constitutional appointments were carried out without adhering to the procedural norms established by the 2023 law and Supreme Court directives.

Questions Raised Over Process and Legal Compliance

The petition specifically challenges the March 14, 2024 notification through which Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were appointed. The petitioner claims that sections 5, 6, and 8(1) of the relevant act were bypassed during the selection. A writ of 'quo warranto' has been sought, asking the court to verify the legal authority under which these public officials hold their offices.

Furthermore, the petition questions the composition and recommendations of the search committee. It argues that with two vacancies, the panel should have recommended a total of 10 names (five for each position), whereas the committee only put forward six names. The plea also references earlier Supreme Court observations regarding haste in the appointment process and the need for adequate vetting time.

Scrutiny Over Electoral Management Experience

Invoking Section 5 of the Act, which mandates that appointees must have served as secretaries to the Government of India with adequate experience in election management, the petition questions the official service records of the appointees regarding direct electoral assignments. The Supreme Court is set to hear the petition and examine the arguments presented.