The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea challenging the appointment of Arun Goel as the Election Commissioner.
The PIL was filed by the NGO - Association for Democratic Reforms, alleging that his appointment was arbitrary and violative of institutional integrity. A Division Bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna noted that the Constitution Bench did not pass any orders against his appointment though the related files were examined. Hence, the 2-judge bench said it is not appropriate on its part to entertain the matter.
A former bureaucrat and an officer from the Punjab cadre, Goel took over as the Election Commissioner in November 2022.
Why did the ADR challenge his appointment?
The plea alleged that his appointment was arbitrary, and violative of institutional integrity and independence of the poll body. "The writ petition is being filed in public interest challenging the appointment of Sh. Arun Goel as Election Commissioner vide notification dated November 19, 2022, on the ground that the appointment is arbitrary and violative of institutional integrity and independence of Election Commission Of India...," the plea said.
The NGO sought the constitution of a "neutral and independent committee" for the appointment of members of the Election Commission and alleged that the Union government and the ECI have through their acts of "omissions and commission" participated in a carefully orchestrated "selection procedure" for their own benefits.
Supreme Court verdict on EC
Goel's appointment came at a time when the Supreme Court was hearing petitions regarding the appointment procedures of the poll body. In an order dated March 3, the court said the three-member ECI would be chosen by a committee of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition or leader of the single-largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India till Parliament enacts a law on the matter.
The appointment of election commissioner Arun Goel also came under scrutiny by the top court which sought from the Centre the original records pertaining to his appointment for perusal, saying it wanted to know whether there was any "hanky panky".
