Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said that adequate arrangements have been made for smooth polling in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls and urged voters to participate in the festival of democracy in maximum numbers.
In an intriguing turn of events amid the counting of votes in Pakistan, a prominent netizen claimed that the country's chief election commissioner 'disappeared' and could not be found, only to clarify shortly after that he was back at his office.
“We find the Constitution bench did not pass any order on the appointment. We are not inclined to issue notice, accordingly, the matter is dismissed,” the bench said.
The apex court told the Centre that it wanted to understand the process that was followed in the appointment of the former bureaucrat as Election Commissioner even as it was hearing a case regarding the procedure for such appointments.
Arun Goel had on Friday taken voluntary retirement from the post of Secretary, Heavy Industries.
Anup Chandra Pandey stressed the need to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the management of electoral rolls, polling management, electoral technology, control of disinformation, fake news, cyber security, and all related aspects for conducting free, fair, and transparent elections.
Chairing a meeting with the district deputy commissioner and other senior officials in Rewari, state State Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh said the election of Panches will be done by ballot paper while the election of Zilla Parishad members, Panchayat Samiti members and Sarpanch will be done through EVMs.
The 62-year-old will demit office in February 2024 on attaining the age of 65 years, according to the age criteria guiding the Election Commissioners.
Other officers of the Commission, including Secretary-General Umesh Sinha, DECs, Directors and Senior Principal Secretaries were also present on the occasion.
A 1984 batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer, Rajiv Kumar will take charge "with effect from with the date he assumes office vice Ashok Lavasa, Election Commissioner who has resigned with effect from 31st August, 2020," according to a notification by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
