PM-led panel picks Gyanesh Kumar as new Chief Election Commissioner.(CEC)

Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner of  India.

 V S Ramadevi was the only woman to head the Election Commission of India(ECI).

          LEARNING FROM HOME/ WITHOUT CLASSES / BASICS

The electoral system is based on adult suffrage. Every citizen who is not less than 18 years of age can vote. (Art326).

There is single-member territorial constituencies that elect a single representative by a simple majority vote.

                 Chief Election Commissioner

  ECI , interalia, is vested with the power of superintendence, direction, and control of conducting the elections to the offices of the President and Vice-President of India. The commission also has the powers of the elections to both Houses of Parliament; both Houses of the State Legislature.

                 It delimits the constituencies for elections (Art 82) and allots the numbers of seats to each of them.

                   It advises the President or the Governor on all electoral matters, including questions relating to the disqualifications of the members.

                         The CEC and the two EC draw salaries and allowances at par with those of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

                     The CEC or an Election Commissioner(EC) holds office for a term of six years.

State Election Commissions(SEC)

• The SEC entrusted with the function of conducting free, fair and impartial elections to the local bodies in the state.
• Article 243K(1).  It states that the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Panchayats (Municipalities under Article 243ZA) shall vested in a State Election Commission consisting of a State Election Commissioner. Governor appoints them.
• Article 243K(2).  It states that the tenure and appointment as per the law made by the state legislature. However, the State Election Commissioner not removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.

   In Kishan Singh Tomar,2006, the Supreme Court ruled that the powers of the State Election Commission. It ruled in respect of the conduct of elections are no less than that of the ECI in their respective domains. These powers are, of course, subject to the law made by Parliament or by State Legislatures provided the same do not encroach upon the plenary powers of the said Election Commissions.

READ: https://newssimplified.in/new-bill-on-appointment-of-election-commissioners-basics-explained/