Bureaucrats cannot be State Election Commissioners: SC Â
Context: The Supreme Court held that independent persons and not bureaucrats should be appointed State Election Commissioners.
Supreme Court’s Stand:
- It said that giving government employees the additional charge of State Election Commissioners is a mockery of the Constitution.
- It directed that the States should appoint independent persons as Election Commissioners all along the length and breadth of the country.
- The independence of Election Commissions cannot be compromised at any cost.
- The judgment criticised the Goa government for giving its Law Secretary the additional charge of State Election Commissioner.
- Under the constitutional mandate, it is the duty of the State to not interfere with the functioning of the State Election Commission.
About State Election Commission:
(Article 243K in The Constitution Of India)
- The superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats shall be vested in a State Election Commission.
- State Election Commissioner to be appointed by the Governor.
- State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like ground as a Judge of a High Court.
- The conditions of service of the State Election Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
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