Supreme Court asks Centre to show Election Commissioner Arun Goel’s appointment files

Supreme Court on Wednesday asked Centre to produce before it the files pertaining to the appointment of Arun Goel as the Election Commissioner. Goel was appointed to the position on November 19 and took charge on November 21.

A five-judge bench led by Justice KM Joseph asked Attorney General R Venkataramani to produce the files tomorrow (November 24).

The apex court added that it would have been more appropriate if the appointment awaited the outcome of the hearing before the constitution bench on the selection mechanism of CEC and ECs.

“Because this appointment was made after we began hearing this case, let’s see how the appointment is made. You should not have any danger since you say everything is hunky-dory,” the bench noted.

Sushil Chandra’s retirement as the chief election commissioner in May 2022 left the post of one commissioner in the three-member ECI vacant. Rajiv Kumar succeeded Chandra while Anup Chandra Pandey is the other election commissioner.

A 1985 batch Punjab cadre IAS officer, Goel, will be in line to become the next chief election commissioner after Kumar’s tenure ends in February 2025.

The office of an election commissioner or chief election commissioner can be held for six years or till the age of 65, whichever is earlier.