New Delhi: In a significant judgement, the Supreme Court today ruled that any persons employed with the central or state government could not be appointed as election commissioners.
The apex court has also ordered the Goa government, which had given additional charge of State Election Commissioner to the state’s Law Secretary, to appoint an independent person.
The bench headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman said, “The Independence of election commission cannot be compromised in a democracy. Entrusting additional charge of State Election Commissioner to a government official in power is a mockery of the constitution,”
The top court also directed all state election commissioners across the country, who currently hold additional charge, to step down immediately, saying that a government employee or bureaucrat cannot be appointed as Election Commissioner.
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