After The SC Notes Their Brief Terms, The Former Top Election Commissioners Claim A Lack Of Understanding

Two former leaders of the crucial constitutional body felt it is unlikely that the full tenure of six years for all three members will be met in the post-T.N. Seshan era, despite the top court expressing concern over the truncated run of chief poll commissioners.

One of them, S.Y. Quraishi, then suggested a collegium system, similar to how judges are currently chosen for the high courts and the supreme court, for the poll panel to choose its candidates.

The administration only gives the independence of the Election Commissioners “lip service,” according to the Supreme Court’s observations. The tenures of Chief Election Commissioners (CECs), which were over eight years in the 1950s, have slid down to a little over two years at best after 2004, it was stated while hearing petitions that ask for functional independence for Election Commissioners.

A CEC and Election Commissioner’s term is set at six years or until they reach the age of 65, whichever comes first, according to the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act of 1991.

While the first CEC Sukumar Sen served in the position for 8 years and 273 days, Kalyan Sundaram’s successor currently holds the record for the longest term at 8 years and 284 days.

T. N. Seshan, the last CEC to receive a six-year term, is credited with altering the nature of Indian elections. After Seshan, M. S. Gill served as president for 4 years and 69 days. Since then, it has gotten worse, with most tenures being two to three years or even shorter.

During the years when the BJP was in power, the average CEC tenure fell from 3 years and 7 months to 1 year and 8 months.

Even under the rule of Congress, there have been instances of brief terms in office. For instance, Nagendra Singh, the fourth CEC, held office from 1 October 1972 to 6 February 1973, a period of just over four months.

V. S. Ramadevi became the first and only female officer to lead the election panel in 1990. Ramadevi, who was born in Andhra Pradesh, had the shortest tenure, lasting only 19 days from November 26 to December 11, 1990.

News Mania Desk