Weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, in a surprising move, Election Commissioner Arun Goel has tendered his resignation, effective until 2027. President Draupadi Murmu has accepted his resignation. The Election Commission already had one Commissioner's position vacant since Anup Chandra Pandey's retirement in February this year. Following Arun Goel's resignation, only Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar remains. It is noted that the Election Commission of India comprises the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar now shoulders the entire responsibility of the electoral system. Goel has been accompanying Kumar on various state visits for election preparations. His sudden resignation came as a shock. According to a gazette notification released by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Saturday, 'The President has accepted the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, to be effective from March 9, 2024'.
Under Section 11 (1) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Service Conditions and Tenure) Act, 2023, a Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioner may at any time resign his office by writing to the President. Arun Goel, who took voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Service before his appointment, was the Secretary in the Ministry of Heavy Industries. His appointment was mired in controversy and challenged in the Supreme Court.
Arun Goel's Appointment Controversy
Arun Goel was an IAS officer of the 1985 batch. He took voluntary retirement on November 18, 2022, and was appointed as an Election Commissioner the very next day. The apex court, hearing the case, asked the government, 'What was the rush that he had to be appointed as the Election Commissioner the day after his voluntary retirement? The Law Minister had chosen four names from a shortlisted list... The file was placed for consideration on November 18 and was promptly advanced. Even the Prime Minister had recommended the name on the same day. We don't want any confrontation, but everything was done in too much of a hurry'.
Goel served 15 months in the position. Besides being summoned by the Supreme Court, there was no whisper of any controversy or disagreement with the government or the Chief Election Commissioner. Ashok Lavasa was the second Election Commissioner in the last four years to resign from his position. However, the stories of Lavasa's differences with the Chief Election Commissioner and fellow Election Commissioners were public. In August 2020, Lavasa resigned from his position as Election Commissioner and was appointed as the Vice President of the Asian Development Bank. Last month there was speculation that the government might use new legislation for the appointment of Election Commissioners, but for some reason, the process did not advance. The new law does not include the CJI in the committee that selects Election Commissioners.
