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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
RS gen secy appointed returning officer for vice presidential poll
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday appointed the secretary general of the Rajya Sabha as the returning officer for the Vice-Presidential election, four days after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post citing medical reasons. RS gen secy appointed returning officer for vice presidential poll Garima Jain, joint secretary, and Vijay Kumar, director, both from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, have been appointed as assistant returning officers, two separate gazette notifications said. The appointments were made in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Under Article 324 of the Constitution and the provisions of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the associated rules framed in 1974, the ECI is responsible for conducting the election to the office of the Vice President of India. According to Section 3 of the Act, the returning officer must be based in New Delhi. By convention, the role rotates between the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. In the previous Vice-Presidential election, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha served as the returning officer. The Vice-Presidential election follows a system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote through secret ballot. The Electoral College comprises only Members of Parliament—both elected and nominated members of the Lok Sabha (543 elected, 2 nominated) and the Rajya Sabha (233 elected, 12 nominated), totaling 790 electors. Nominated members, who do not vote in Presidential elections, are eligible to vote in Vice-Presidential polls. The nomination process requires candidates to file in prescribed Form 3. Each nomination must be backed by at least 20 proposers and 20 seconders, all of whom must be MPs. A candidate cannot be supported by the same MP more than once. A security deposit of ₹15,000 must accompany the nomination, either in cash or pre-deposited with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Candidates may submit up to four nomination papers. Nominations are scrutinised on a fixed date to verify signatures and eligibility. Candidates can withdraw their nominations within two days after scrutiny. Based on the 2022 precedent, the election schedule typically includes notification issuance, a seven-day nomination period, scrutiny, withdrawal, and polling around 30 days after notification. In 2022, the election process lasted 32 days. The vacancy in the Vice President's office was formalised through a Gazette Notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 22. The ECI confirmed on Wednesday that it had initiated preparations, including the formation of the Electoral College, finalization of election officials, and compilation of background materials on past Vice-Presidential elections. The commission stated that the election schedule will be announced soon. Article 68 of the Constitution requires that an election to fill a Vice-Presidential vacancy be held 'as soon as possible' after the office falls vacant. In the interim, the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha discharges the Vice President's duties as ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds approximately 293 members in the Lok Sabha and 133 in the Rajya Sabha, giving it control over 426 MPs. This exceeds the simple majority threshold of 396 votes in the 790-member electoral college.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Poll panel appoints secretary general of RS as returning officer for election of VP
Election Commission on Friday appointed the secretary general of the Rajya Sabha as the returning officer for election to the office of vice-president. This was done in consultation with ministry of law and justice and with consent of deputy chairman of RS. The poll panel also appointed Garima Jain and Vijay Kumar, joint secretary and director respectively in RS secretariat, as assistant returning officers. The V-P election has been necessitated due to the post falling vacant upon resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar. EC had earlier said it had started pre-announcement activities, after the completion of which it would announce the election schedule "as soon as possible". Election Commission conducts election to the office of vice-president as per its mandate under Article 324, and in line with Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the rules made under the Act. As per convention, either secretary general, Lok Sabha or secretary general, Rajya Sabha is appointed as returning officer by rotation. During the last Vice-Presidential election, the secretary general of the Lok Sabha was appointed as the returning officer. Gazette notifications regarding the appointment of the returning officer and assistant returning officer for vice-presidential election 2025 were issued on Friday.
United News of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
ECI appoints returning officer for Vice President election
New Delhi, July 25 (UNI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated preparations for the Vice-Presidential Election, 2025 after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned early this week from the constitutional post. An official order issued today said, Rajya Sabha Secretary General has been appointed the Returning Officer for the election in accordance with the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. The appointment was made in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the approval of the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Alongside the Returning Officer, two Assistant Returning Officers have also been named: Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat. As per Article 324 of the Constitution, the Election Commission of India is responsible for conducting the election to the office of the Vice President. 'Under Section 3 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, appoints a Returning Officer, who shall have his office in New Delhi, and may also appoint one or more Assistant Returning Officers. As per convention, either Secretary General, Lok Sabha or the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha is appointed as the Returning Officer by rotation. "During the last Vice-Presidential election, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha was appointed as the Returning ,' the official order said. The requisite gazette notification is being issued separately today, the notice further added. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had tendered his resignation on Monday evening, citing health concerns. In a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, he stated that his decision to step down was made "to prioritise health care and adhere to medical advice." UNI AJ PRS
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Election Commission appoints Returning Officer, Assistant ROs to elect Vice-President
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India on Friday appointed a Returning Officer and two Assistant Returning Officers for the conduct of Vice-Presidential polls. Commission stated that the requisite Gazette Notification in this regard specifying the schedule of the election would be issued separately later in the day. The Commission in an official statement said that in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Hon'ble Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, has appointed the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, PC Mody as Returning Officer for the ensuing Vice-Presidential Election, 2025. ECI has also appointed Ms. Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat and Shri Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat as Assistant Returning Officers during the Vice-Presidential Election, 2025'. The Election Commission of India, under Article 324, is mandated to conduct the election to the office of the Vice President of India. The election to the office of the V-P is governed by The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the rules made there under, namely 'The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974'. Under Section 3 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, appoints a Returning Officer, who shall have his office in New Delhi, and may also appoint one or more Assistant Returning Officers. 'As per convention, either Secretary General, Lok Sabha or Secretary General, Rajya Sabha is appointed as the Returning Officer by rotation. During the last Vice-Presidential election, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha was appointed as the Returning Officer,' the poll panel said.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
V-P election: EC appoints Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody as returning officer
Taking the next step for holding elections to the post of Vice-President, the Election Commission (EC) on Friday appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody as the returning officer (RO) and two secretariat officers of the Upper House as assistant ROs. A gazette notification to this effect will be issued on Friday. Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, and Vijay Kumar, Director, are the assistant ROs, the poll panel said. The post of Vice-President was vacated on Monday by Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned mid-term citing health grounds. Sources aware of the development, however, said his decision to accept an Opposition-moved motion for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma in Rajya Sabha on Monday had rubbed the government the wrong way. In a statement on Friday, the poll panel said: 'As per convention, either Secretary General, Lok Sabha or Secretary General, Rajya Sabha is appointed as Returning Officer by rotation. During the last Vice-Presidential election, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha was appointed as the Returning Officer. Therefore, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Hon'ble Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, has appointed the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha as Returning Officer for ensuing Vice-Presidential Election, 2025.' The EC said it appointed the officers under Section 3 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. As per the Act, the EC has a 30 to 32-day timeline for conducting the poll after notifying the schedule, including 14 days for filing nominations, one day for scrutiny, and two days for withdrawal of candidature. If the election is contested, the polling has to be held at least 15 days after the date of withdrawal of candidature. The electoral college for the election of V-P comprises MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members. The polling takes place in Parliament via a secret ballot. All MPs' votes carry equal value.
