The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, posted for February 4 a batch of petitions challenging validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act 2023, that excludes the Chief Justice of India from a panel for the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners and gives majority to the government in the selection process.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday dismissed the claims of hacking and tampering electronic voting machines (EVMs), saying there is no scope for such manipulations as the machines are foolproof.
The Punjab State Election Commission, on Sunday, announced the election schedule for the elections to various municipal corporations,councils, and nagar panchayats on December 21, 2024, in accordance with the notifications of the Local Government Department dated 22.11.2024.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said that adequate arrangements have been made for smooth polling in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls and urged voters to participate in the festival of democracy in maximum numbers.
In an intriguing turn of events amid the counting of votes in Pakistan, a prominent netizen claimed that the country's chief election commissioner 'disappeared' and could not be found, only to clarify shortly after that he was back at his office.
The 62-year-old will demit office in February 2024 on attaining the age of 65 years, according to the age criteria guiding the Election Commissioners.
Other officers of the Commission, including Secretary-General Umesh Sinha, DECs, Directors and Senior Principal Secretaries were also present on the occasion.
A 1984 batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer, Rajiv Kumar will take charge "with effect from with the date he assumes office vice Ashok Lavasa, Election Commissioner who has resigned with effect from 31st August, 2020," according to a notification by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The 62-year-old Lavasa was appointed as the Election Commissioner in January 2018 and had yet to serve two more years to complete his tenure.
With his appointment, the EC now has Sunil Arora as the Chief Election Commissioner and Ashok Lavasa and Chandra as fellow commissioners.
