Retired Punjab cadre IAS officer Arun Goel appointed Election Commissioner
New Delhi, November 19
Retired IAS officer Arun Goel has been appointed as an Election Commissioner ahead of the crucial assembly election in Gujarat.
The third post in the three-member poll panel was vacant for nearly six months.
In a communique issued by the Ministry of law & Justice it is said, “The President is pleased to appoint Shri Arun Goel, IAS (retd) (PB: 1985) as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission with effect from the date he assumes the office.”
A Punjab cadre IAS officer of the 1985 batch, Goel will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in the poll panel.
Former Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had retired in May this year, handing charge to Rajiv Kumar and since then the poll panel remained a two-member body, which handled several crucial issues including the demands for disqualification of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Once Goel joins his new responsibility, he would be in line to be the next chief election commissioner after the incumbent demits office in February 2025. Goel will demit office in December 2027 on attaining the age of 65 years.
