SC Questions Process of Arun Goel’s Appointment as Election Commissioner

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday made stringent remarks on the process in which former IAS officer Arun Goel was appointed as Election Commissioner. The five-judge Constitution bench asked what the “tearing hurry” was for the “super fast” appointment of this ex-IAS as Election Commissioner.

Today the Constitution bench studied the files on Arun Goel that it had sought from the Central government yesterday.

The court pointed out: “Minister of Law picks the names from the list of four names shortlisted… The file was put up on November 18; moves the same day. Even PM recommends the name on the same day. We don’t want any confrontation, but was this done in any haste? What’s the tearing hurry?”

The post of Election Commissioner was vacant from May 15. The court remarked that while nothing much was done to fill up the post till November, on November 18, the whole process was started and completed on the same day.

The bench, headed by Justice KM Joseph, yesterday said it wanted to know if there was any “hanky panky” in the appointment of Arun Goel as he was only recently given voluntary retirement and immediately appointed to the poll body.

Arun Goel took charge on November 21. He may become the Chief Election Commissioner after Rajiv Kumar leaves office in February 2025.