In a significant development, the government has notified the appointment of ex-bureaucrats Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as election commissioners to the Election Commission of India (ECI). This decision comes hours after a high-powered committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened to fill the two vacancies in the ECI, which previously only had Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, Shri Gyanesh Kumar, IAS (Retd.) and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, IAS (Retd.) have been appointed as Election Commissioners with immediate effect. These appointments were necessitated due to the sudden resignation of Arun Goel from the ECI on March 9, adding to the existing vacancy following the end of Anup Chandra Pandey’s term in February.
Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu are both 1988-batch IAS officers, hailing from the Kerala and Uttarakhand cadres, respectively. Notable achievements mark their distinguished careers in public service.
During his tenure in the Home Ministry, Gyanesh Kumar played a crucial role in overseeing the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, his leadership was instrumental in successfully evacuating 46 nurses trapped in war-torn Erbil, Iraq, during his tenure as the Resident Commissioner of Kerala in Delhi in 2014. Gyanesh Kumar, an alumnus of IIT-Kanpur and Harvard University, holds a postgraduate degree in economics.
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, a former chief secretary of Uttarakhand, is recognized for his contributions towards the ideation for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the state. With a background in medical studies from Amritsar Medical College and a master’s degree in history, Sandhu brings a diverse skill set to his new role as an election commissioner.
However, the selection process has not been without controversy. Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has registered dissent over the selection, alleging lack of transparency in the process. Chowdhury, part of the selection committee, expressed dissatisfaction over not being provided with a list of “short-listed” names in advance, raising questions about the selection procedure.
Chowdhury criticized the process, stating that the meeting was reduced to a mere formality and emphasized the need for greater inclusion, suggesting the Chief Justice of India should be part of the committee. He voiced concerns over the overwhelming number of candidates to consider, with only a shortlist of six names provided just ten minutes before the meeting.
The dissent from Chowdhury highlights the ongoing debate surrounding transparency and fairness in the selection of key positions, underscoring the importance of robust procedures to ensure the integrity of democratic institutions.
As Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu assume their roles as election commissioners, they face the crucial task of upholding the democratic values and integrity of the electoral process, amidst ongoing scrutiny and calls for transparency in governance.
The appointment of these seasoned bureaucrats underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring a fair and impartial electoral framework, even as concerns over transparency persist.
The stage is set for Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu to embark on their new roles, navigating the complex terrain of electoral governance with diligence and dedication.