Election Commission appoints Rajya Sabha secretary general as returning officer for Vice-Presidential poll

The Election Commission has appointed the Rajya Sabha secretary general as returning officer for the ensuing Vice-Presidential election.

The poll panel has also appointed Garima Jain, joint secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and Vijay Kumar, director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, as assistant returning officers.

The gazette notification will be issued later on Friday.

The Tribune had reported on July 24 that the notification for the Vice Presidential election is likely to be issued within a week as the polls are to be conducted during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The election was necessitated after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, citing health reasons.

The election to the Vice President is governed by The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act,1952, and The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974.

Under Section 3 of the Act, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Centre, 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, the Lok Sabha secretary general and Rajya Sabha secretary general are appointed as returning officers by rotation.

During the last Vice-Presidential election, the Lok Sabha secretary general was appointed the returning officer.