🗳️ Gyanesh Kumar Appointed as Chief Election Commissioner: Key Highlights & Controversy 🗳️

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Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) amid controversy over the new selection law. Know the full details of the appointment, political reactions, and legal challenges.

📌 Current Affairs (26 February 2025) – Atharva Examwise 📌

Gyanesh Kumar Appointed as Chief Election Commissioner Amid Legal Challenge

Key Highlights:

🔹 New CEC Appointment: Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). He will assume office on Wednesday.
🔹 Election Commissioner Appointment: Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi has also been appointed as an Election Commissioner.
🔹 Selection Controversy: The appointment was made under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
🔹 Congress Opposition: Rahul Gandhi, a member of the selection panel, opposed the decision and walked out after submitting his objections in writing.
🔹 Supreme Court Case: The appointment comes just a day before the Supreme Court is set to hear a challenge to the new selection law.

Understanding the Controversy:

📌 The Supreme Court, in its March 2, 2023 judgment (Anoop Baranwal vs Union of India), ruled that the CEC and ECs should be appointed by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
📌 However, the 2023 Act replaced the CJI with a Union Minister, giving the government greater control over the selection process.
📌 Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi termed this move as creating a "partisan and non-neutral mechanism."
📌 Congress has demanded an early hearing of the Supreme Court case challenging the new law.

Significance of the New Appointment:

✅ First CEC under the new law – This marks a shift from the previous system where the President appointed the CEC based on government recommendations.
✅ Upcoming Elections Impact – The CEC plays a crucial role in conducting free and fair elections, including the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
✅ Debate on Electoral Reforms – The move has reignited discussions on electoral independence and the autonomy of constitutional bodies.

Conclusion:

The appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as CEC has sparked a major political and legal debate. With the Supreme Court set to hear the case soon, the decision could have significant implications for India's electoral democracy. Stay tuned to Atharva Examwise for the latest updates on this developing story.

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By : team atharvaexamwise