By Ashok Kumar
The new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar has been chosen by the present incumbent government without waiting for the Supreme Court verdict on the plea by ADR (Association of Democratic Reform) challenging the Central Govt decision to remove CJI from the selection panel for selection of Chief Election Commissioner. This hearing was to take place on Wednesday Feb 19 2025.
Choosing the next CEC could have been deferred till the Supreme Court takes a decision on the plea. It would have been discourteous and disrespectful to the institutions and founding fathers of our nation of this committee to continue with the process of choosing the new CEC, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said in his protest statement when the very composition of this committee is being challenged and soon to be heard by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
It is obvious that the ruling dispensation did not want to take chances as as some elections are round the corner and some elections will happen in near future. By selecting the new CEC the government has ensured smooth sailing till 2029. Now, whatever the SC decision no one is going to bother. The ‘my foot” attitude of the Centre will now govern the affairs of the nation.
Mr. Gyanesh Kumar has his tenure till January 26 2029 and is reportedly close to both Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kumar was appointed to the EC on March 14, 2024, less than two months after he retired from the IAS. Kumar, as a bureaucrat is illustrated by the fact that he was not only given the responsibility of formulating the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, one of the most secretive Bills ever brought by a government but also that he was involved in the setting up of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Kumar, who is from Uttar Pradesh, holds a B Tech degree in civil engineering from IIT Kanpur (With inputs from The Indian Express)
Yatodharamas Tato Jayah is the motto of Supreme Court of India but what had happened in the Highest Court that where the court could not find time or make the judges available to hear one of the most important cases for the people of India in regard of the validity of CEC and other EC appointments as per the CEC Act 2023 which has been Challenged in the court since March 2023. It was listed and expected to heard on Feb 19,2025. However, surprisingly it was requested in the Court by the sitting Solicitor General of India to The CJI that since because of his engagement in other case Of Arbitration which too was heard by the Constitution Bench in CJI court No 1.He showed his inability to be present in the Case regarding of CEC Appointment. Interestingly the Case of Such public importance was not heard.
However, the Feb 19 hearing into the case was deferred ‘on the plea’ ‘by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that he is engaged in another hearing on Constitution issue hence this hearing may be deferred.
It shows its preference and priorities of the highest Court of the Land which evidently shows and prefers towards rich corporates rather than the fate of common citizens “We The People.”
So, would it be correct to say that YATOARATHAAS TATO Jayah instead of YATODHARMAAS TATO Jayah Yatodharamastato Jayah means where there is Dharma there is victory. Yatoaradhaastato Jayah means where there is Aratha there is victory.
