Context

Recently Arun Goel assumes charge as Election Commissioner

● The Election Commission is a permanent and an independent body established by the Constitution of India directly to ensure free and fair elections in the country.

● Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the power of superintendence, direction and control of elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of president of India and the office of vice-president of India shall be vested in the election commission.

Composition Election commission of India:

● The constitution provides for the following provisions in relation to the composition of the election commission:

● The election commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and a such number of other election commissioners, if any, as the president may from time to time fix.

● The appointment of the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners shall be made by the president.

● When any other election commissioner is so appointed the chief election commissioner shall act as the chairman of the election commission.

● The president may also appoint after consultation with the election commission such regional commissioners as he may consider necessary to assist the election commission.

● The conditions of service and tenure of office of the election commissioners and the regional commissioners shall be such as the President may by rule.