Supreme Court to hear pleas challenging the law that excludes the Chief Justice of India from the panel appointing Election Commissioners on November 11, examining the constitutional validity and impact of this significant change in the appointment process.
The government has announced that Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will take over as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) after Rajiv Kumar. Gyanesh Kumar is currently the senior-most election commissioner after Rajiv Kumar. His appointment was confirmed late this evening. Gyanesh Kumar will oversee key elections, including assembly polls in five states: West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (all ruled by the Opposition), and Bihar and Assam (both NDA-ruled). The Bihar election is set for later this year, while the others are scheduled for 2026.
NEW DELHI: Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, is set to retire in February, and this has once again drawn attention to an important issue before the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the court discussed the need to speed up a decision on the legality of a new law that impacts the appointment of Election Commissioners. This law gives significant control to the Central government.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar dismissed Elon Musk’s claims that Indian Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can be hacked, stating they are tamper-proof and not connected to any network, unlike some systems in the U.S. The Election Commission and the Supreme Court have repeatedly confirmed the reliability and security of India’s EVMs, labeling such allegations as baseless.
In 2024, India’s Supreme Court dealt with numerous landmark rulings, focusing on personal liberty, places of worship disputes, and electoral reforms. Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna emphasized efficiency, reforming case backlogs. Notable cases included prohibitions on religious site surveys, striking down electoral bonds, and addressing environmental pollution. The court’s decisions significantly influenced legal frameworks and societal issues.