NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed the central government to immediately submit the files regarding the appointment of retired Punjab cadre IAS officer Arun Goel as the Election Commissioner. The court's directive came while the Constitution Bench was considering a petition seeking to revise the appointment procedures of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner. The Supreme Court has instructed to produce the files on Thursday itself. The court said this is to understand the appointment mechanism.
The court is considering a petition which demands the need for a new committee for appointment of election commissioners. The central government appointed Arun Goel as the Election Commissioner on November 19, while the plea was under the court’s consideration. The court observed that such appointment could have been avoided while considering the petition. Justice KM Joseph who heads the Constitution Bench, pointed out that there is nothing to fear if the procedure of appointment is followed properly as claimed by the government.