Punjab: No State Election Commissioner for 11 months; advocate puts govt on notice
Chandigarh, November 21: The post of State Election Commissioner (SEC) has been lying vacant in Punjab for the past 11 months.
Ambala-based advocate Hemant Kumar has sent a legal notice to the Punjab Government seeking the appointment of the State Election Commissioner at the earliest. An advocate in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Hemant Kumar said it was the duty of previous government, led by Charanjit Singh Channi, to appoint a successor to Jagpal Singh Sandhu, but to no avail.
Notably, Stat Election Commissioner is a constitutional post. He said the delay in the appointment amounted to violation of constitutional provisions by the Punjab Government.
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As per Section 4 of Punjab State Election Commission Act, 1994, the Governor (of State of Punjab) shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint an officer of the state government not below the age of 55 years and of the rank of Financial Commissioner, or the Principal Secretary to the state government having service as such for a minimum period of two years or a serving or retired Judge of the High Court as (State) Election Commissioner.
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- PTC NEWS
