The Election Commission of India, on Friday, appointed the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha as the Returning Officer for the upcoming Vice-Presidential Election in 2025.
The decision was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, the EC said in a statement.
The Vice-Presidential election is necessitated due to the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post.
“Under Section 3 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, appoints a Returning Officer,” the poll panel said in its statement.
The EC has also appointed Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, as Assistant Returning Officers during the course of the Vice-Presidential Election.
The Election Commission of India is mandated under Article 324 to conduct elections to the office of the Vice President of India. The election is governed by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, and the rules made thereunder.
As per convention, the Secretary General of either the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha is appointed as the Returning Officer by rotation. In the last Vice-Presidential election, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha was appointed as the Returning Officer.
A Gazette Notification regarding these appointments is being issued separately today, the EC said.