Vivek Joshi, a 1989-batch Haryana-cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as the Election Commissioner of India. His appointment was officially announced on Monday through an order issued by the President under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. Joshi will assume charge of his new role immediately.
Born on May 21, 1966, Joshi (58) will serve in the Election Commission until 2031. This means he is likely to take over as Chief Election Commissioner during the 2029 Lok Sabha elections after the retirement of Gyanesh Kumar on January 27, 2029.
Career experience
Joshi has held several significant positions in both state and central government. Last year, he served as the Chief Secretary of Haryana, and before that, he was the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) at the Centre. His tenure at DoPT played a crucial role in his selection for the chief secretary role in November 2024, despite senior officers from the 1990 batch waiting for their turn.
Additionally, Joshi has served as the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs and has been on Central deputation since January 2019. His vast experience in administration and governance makes him a suitable choice for the Election Commission.
Joshi’s appointment restores the Election Commission to its full three-member strength, alongside Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and fellow Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. This follows the recent retirement of former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
Concerns over selection process
The selection panel for the appointment was headed by the Prime Minister. However, the process has faced objections from the opposition. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, submitted his objections in writing, urging the government to defer the decision until the Supreme Court concludes its hearing on a petition challenging the composition of the selection panel.
The Congress has called on the government to postpone the decision until the Supreme Court rules on a petition challenging the new procedure for appointing Election Commissioners.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has strongly criticised the revised selection framework, notably the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the panel responsible for appointments. “The government appears more interested in exerting influence over the Election Commission than preserving its autonomy and credibility,” Singhvi asserted, fuelling the ongoing debate over the institution’s independence.