Will Yashwant Kumar Sinha become the new Election Commissioner?

-The government took the decision amid opposition protests

-Sinha had been the Chief Information Commissioner

New Delhi on 30th October 2020 Friday

The Center was likely to appoint Yashwant Kumar Sinha, a former foreign ministry official and information commissioner, as the new election commissioner soon. Opposition parties have stated they will not run in the by-elections, but the government has made the decision.

The central government has also decided to appoint Deputy Comptroller and Accountant General (Deputy CAG) Saroj Punhani and journalist Uday Mahurkar as information commissioners, the source said. The government had informed the concerned departments about the matter.

Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, a member of the committee formed to consider the names and an outspoken Congress MP, sent a note to the Prime Minister opposing the appointment. It opined that the appointments were not made in a transparent and proper manner as per the provisions of the RTI Act. Impatient Ranjan Chaudhary told the committee meeting that sufficient experience was required for the post of Chief Information Commissioner. The former foreign secretary is not considered suitable for law, science, various services, human rights and other issues. Chaudhary also suggested that Additional Information Commissioner Vanjana N Sarna was a more suitable candidate for the post.

However, the Modi government rejected Chaudhry's suggestion.