Former Cooperation secretary who played a vital role during abrogation of article 370 as additional secretary home – Gyanesh Kumar, IAS is the new CEC
A 1988 Indian Administrative Service officer and former cooperation secretary, government of India Gyanesh Kumar is the new chief election commissioner of India.
The incumbent CEC Rajeev Kumar is retiring on 18 th February.
The new CEC will take charge and join his duties on 19 th February, 2025 when the apex court will be hearing the petition filed against the new law of appointment under which Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
It may be recalled that the new CEC is appointed by the president of India after the Selection Committee comprising of the prime minister, union cabinet minister chosen by the PM and leader of the opposition select him/ her after mutual deliberations.
The prime minister is the chairperson of this committee.
According to the latest news quoting the Law ministry the new CEC Gyanesh Kumar is the first one to have been selected by the new committee and the law in the selection of the CEC though it has been challenged in the apex court.
The term of Gyanesh Kumar will come to an end in the month of January , and year 2029.
According to a Financial Express report : Not many know this, but Kumar has a connection with some key issues of the country including Article 370, Ram Temple and Triple Talaq.
The leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi had boycotted the meeting of the selection committee as he was in favour of the chief justice of Supreme court to be the third member of the committee instead of the union minister recommended by the prime minister as the majority remains with the PM in selection and the LOP holds no significance or say in the selection of the new CEC says Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile according to news reports the 1988 retired Kerala cadre officer of IAS rank and former cooperation secretary Gyanesh Kumar was immensely instrumental in playing a highly contributive role in formulating a policy in implementing decisions when the article 370 in the context of Jammu and Kashmir n Ladakh was abrogated and J & K became the union territory including Ladakh region, separately.
He was then in the union home ministry as its as the additional secretary and earlier as joint secretary from 2016 to 2018 and thereafter from 2018 to 2021.
A brilliant officer keeping in view his track record he was a BTech in Civil from IIT Kanpur and later on pursuing the Business Finance in ICFAL India and Environmental Economics in HIID Harvard University , USA later on serving as assistant collector of Ernakulam, Sub collector Adoor, MD Kerala state Development Corporation of SC ST , Municipal Commissioner, Cochin etc. He was thereafter elevated as secretary to Government of Kerala including as joint secretary in ministry of Defence, in home and thereafter as additional secretary home and finally as cooperation secretary . His performance has been brilliant finally retiring in 31/January to be nominated as the chief election commissioner.
