Janjivan Bureau / NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday named Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti the next Chief Election Commissioner of India.
The Ministry of Law announced Joti’s appointment and said he will take charge as the CEC on July 6, when incumbent Nasim Zaidi retires.
Joti, who will be the 21st CEC, has also served as the Gujarat vigilance commissioner and worked in various capacities in the state, including as the chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and the managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL).
The central government on Tuesday appointed Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti as the next chief election commissioner (CEC).
Joti, 64, was chief secretary of Gujarat when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister. He will take over as the head of the Election Commission on July 6, a notification issued by the law ministry said.
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The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India and has tenure of six years in office or till he or she attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. As CEC of India, Joti will be overseeing state Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh before demitting office in January 2018.
Joti, a 1975-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, had joined the three-member poll panel as an election commissioner on May 8, 2015, and would be in office till January 17 next year.
He retired as chief secretary of Gujarat in January 2013.
All election commissioners, including a CEC, have tenure of six years or until they turn 65\, whichever is earlier.
Joti, who will be the twenty-first CEC, has also served as the Gujarat vigilance commissioner and worked in various capacities in the state, including as chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and the managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL).
He was also the secretary in the industry, revenue and water supply departments in the state.
The government is also soon expected to appoint one more Election Commissioner to fill up the vacancy caused by Zaidi’s retirement.
Om Prakash Rawat is the other election commissioner in the poll panel
