Chief Election Commissioner of India - Revision history

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	\|[[Sukumar Sen (civil servant)\|Sukumar Sen]]		\|[[Sukumar Sen (civil servant)\|Sukumar Sen]]
	\|~~[[File:Sukumar Sen.jpg\|75px]]~~		\|
	\|21 March 1950		\|21 March 1950
	\|19 December 1958		\|19 December 1958

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	== External links ==		== External links ==
	* ~~{{Commons category-inline\|Chief Election Commissioner of India}}~~		*

	{{-}}		{{-}}

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			{{Short description\|Constitutional post to the Government of India}}
	{{distinguish\|Election Commissioner of India}}		{{distinguish\|Election Commissioner of India}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2020}}
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	\| insigniacaption =		\| insigniacaption =
	\| department = [[Election Commission of India]]		\| department = [[Election Commission of India]]
	\| image =		\| image = CEC Rajiv Kumar.jpg
	\| alt =		\| alt =
	\| caption = ~~Sushil Chandra~~ in his office		\| caption = Rajiv Kumar in his office
	\| incumbent = [[~~Sushil Chandra~~]]<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1711219 \|title=Official Press release for President's appointment letter for new Chief Election Commissioner of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/sushil-chandra-to-succeed-sunil-arora-as-cec-to-take-charge-on-april-13/amp_articleshow/82034726.cms \|title=As Sunil Arora retires on 12th April and Sushil Chandra will take charge as new Chief Election Commissioner of India}}</ref>		\| incumbent = [[Rajiv Kumar (civil servant)\| Rajiv Kumar]]
			\| incumbentsince = 15 May 2022
	\| incumbentsince = ~~13 April 2021~~
	\| style =		\| style =
	\| residence =		\| residence =
	\| nominator = [[~~Government~~ of ~~India~~]]		\| nominator = [[Council of Ministers]]
	\| nominatorpost =		\| nominatorpost =
	\| appointer = [[President of India]]		\| appointer = [[President of India]]
	\| appointerpost =		\| appointerpost =
	\| termlength = 6 years or up to 65 years of age<br /> <small>(whichever is earlier)</small>		\| termlength = 6 years or up to 65 years of age<br /> <small>(whichever is earlier)</small>
	\| inaugural =		\| inaugural = [[Sukumar Sen (civil servant)\|Sukumar Sen]]
	\| formation =		\| formation =
	\| last =		\| last =
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	The '''Chief Election Commissioner of India''' heads the [[Election Commission of India]], a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures and of President and Vice-President. This power of the Election Commission of India is derived from the [[Part XV of the Constitution of India\|Article 324]] of the [[Constitution of India]]. Chief Election Commissioner of India is usually a member of the [[Civil Services of India\|Indian Civil Service]] and mostly from the [[Indian Administrative Service]]. It is very difficult to remove the authority of the Chief Election Commissioner once appointed by the president, as two-thirds of the [[Lok Sabha]] and the [[Rajya Sabha]] need to present and vote against him for disorderly conduct or improper actions.		The '''Chief Election Commissioner of India''' heads the [[Election Commission of India]], a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures and of President and Vice-President. This power of the Election Commission of India is derived from the [[Part XV of the Constitution of India\|Article 324]] of the [[Constitution of India]]. Chief Election Commissioner of India is usually a member of the [[Civil Services of India\|Indian Civil Service]] and mostly from the [[Indian Administrative Service]]. It is very difficult to remove the authority of the Chief Election Commissioner once appointed by the president, as two-thirds of the [[Lok Sabha]] and the [[Rajya Sabha]] need to present and vote against him for disorderly conduct or improper actions.

	Despite the recent{{When\|date=June 2017}} changes in the hierarchy, the system always had powers to impose unambiguous rules and guidelines that applied across the entire nation e.g. as to how the ballots will be cast and counted, what will be regarded as 'unqualified' vote.{{Citation needed\|date=December 2020}} India was ~~probably one of~~ the ~~first~~ countries ~~in the world~~ to ~~go for~~ a completely electronic ballot in the parliamentary elections in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-india-stands-out-as-a-gold-standard-in-electronic-voting/articleshow/58666910.cms?from=mdr\|title=Why India stands out as a gold standard in electronic voting\|date=2017-05-14\|work=The Economic Times\|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> ~~What made this remarkable was that~~ the [[Election Commission of India]] ~~had successfully~~ implemented ~~this~~ across ~~the entire~~ diverse ~~Indian~~ population ~~that also consisted of the~~ rural illiterate people.		Despite the recent{{When\|date=June 2017}} changes in the hierarchy, the system always had powers to impose unambiguous rules and guidelines that applied across the entire nation e.g. as to how the ballots will be cast and counted, what will be regarded as 'unqualified' vote.{{Citation needed\|date=December 2020}} India was among the early countries to use a completely electronic ballot in the parliamentary elections in 2014,<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-india-stands-out-as-a-gold-standard-in-electronic-voting/articleshow/58666910.cms?from=mdr\|title=Why India stands out as a gold standard in electronic voting\|date=2017-05-14\|work=The Economic Times\|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> which the [[Election Commission of India]] implemented across India's large and diverse population with many rural illiterate people.

	While the office has always been an important one in the machinery of the Indian political process, it gained significant public attention during the tenure of [[T.N. Seshan]], from 1990 to 1996. Seshan is widely credited with undertaking a zealous effort to end corruption and manipulation in Indian elections.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Das\|first1=Sanjib Kumar\|title=The man who cleaned up ~~India’s~~ elections\|url=http://gulfnews.com/culture/people/the-man-who-cleaned-up-india-s-elections-1.1326815\|access-date=10 August 2016\|work=Gulf News\|date=1 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|last1=Narasimhan\|first1=T. E.\|title=The more you kick me...\|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/-the-more-you-kick-me-112051200032_1.html\|access-date=9 August 2016\|work=Business Standard\|date=12 May 2012}}</ref><ref name=india1>{{cite news\|last1=Srivastava\|first1=Ritesh K.(The Observer)\|title=Empowering the EC\|url=http://zeenews.india.com/blog/empowering-the-ec_658.html\|access-date=19 December 2014\|publisher=Zee News\|date=5 March 2012}}</ref> Though he made significant progress, several politicians attempted to derail these efforts. In particular, the expansion of the Election Commission to include the two [[Election Commissioner of India\|Election Commissioners]] (in addition to the Chief Commissioner) was seen as a move to curtail the commissioner's ability to act aggressively.		While the office has always been an important one in the machinery of the Indian political process, it gained significant public attention during the tenure of [[T.N. Seshan]], from 1990 to 1996. Seshan is widely credited with undertaking a zealous effort to end corruption and manipulation in Indian elections.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Das\|first1=Sanjib Kumar\|title=The man who cleaned up India's elections\|url=http://gulfnews.com/culture/people/the-man-who-cleaned-up-india-s-elections-1.1326815\|access-date=10 August 2016\|work=Gulf News\|date=1 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|last1=Narasimhan\|first1=T. E.\|title=The more you kick me...\|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/-the-more-you-kick-me-112051200032_1.html\|access-date=9 August 2016\|work=Business Standard\|date=12 May 2012}}</ref><ref name=india1>{{cite news\|last1=Srivastava\|first1=Ritesh K.(The Observer)\|title=Empowering the EC\|url=http://zeenews.india.com/blog/empowering-the-ec_658.html\|access-date=19 December 2014\|publisher=Zee News\|date=5 March 2012}}</ref>

	== Suggested reforms ==		== Suggested reforms ==
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	! Salary		! Salary
	\|-		\|-
	\| style="text-align:right;" \| {{INRConvert\|250\|k\|lk=}} monthly<ref name="Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991"/><ref name="HC and SC Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Amendment Bill 2008">{{cite web\|title=The High Court and Supreme Court Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Amendment Bill 2008\|url=http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/1230018357/1230018357_The_High_Court_and_Supreme_Court_Judges__Salaries_and_Conditions_of_Service__Amendment_Bill__2008.pdf\|publisher=PRS India}}</ref>		\| style="text-align:right;" \| {{INRConvert\|250\|k\|lk=}} monthly<ref name="Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991"/><ref name="HC and SC Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Amendment Bill 2008">{{cite web\|title=The High Court and Supreme Court Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Amendment Bill 2008\|url=http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/1230018357/1230018357_The_High_Court_and_Supreme_Court_Judges__Salaries_and_Conditions_of_Service__Amendment_Bill__2008.pdf\|publisher=PRS India\|access-date=17 September 2012\|archive-date=22 August 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822023037/http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/1230018357/1230018357_The_High_Court_and_Supreme_Court_Judges__Salaries_and_Conditions_of_Service__Amendment_Bill__2008.pdf\|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	\|}		\|}

	By the "Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991", the salary of the chief election commissioner is the same as salary of a Judge of [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name="Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991">{{cite web\|title=Election Commission (Condition Of Service Of Election Commissions And Transaction Of Business) Act, 1991\|url=http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/Laws/Election-Commission-Condition-Of-Service-Of-Election-Commissions-And-Transaction-Of-Business-Act-1991.htm\|publisher=Vakil No. 1\|access-date=17 September 2012\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123122252/http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/Laws/Election-Commission-Condition-Of-Service-Of-Election-Commissions-And-Transaction-Of-Business-Act-1991.htm\|archive-date=23 January 2013}}</ref> If there are other election commissioners appointed by the President to help the chief election commissioner, they also receive the same salary.		By the "Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991", the salary of the chief election commissioner is the same as salary of a Judge of [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name="Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991">{{cite web\|title=Election Commission (Condition Of Service Of Election Commissions And Transaction Of Business) Act, 1991\|url=http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/Laws/Election-Commission-Condition-Of-Service-Of-Election-Commissions-And-Transaction-Of-Business-Act-1991.htm\|publisher=Vakil No. 1\|access-date=17 September 2012\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123122252/http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/Laws/Election-Commission-Condition-Of-Service-Of-Election-Commissions-And-Transaction-Of-Business-Act-1991.htm\|archive-date=23 January 2013}}</ref> If there are other election commissioners appointed by the President to help the chief election commissioner, they also receive the same salary.

	==List of ~~Chief~~ Election Commissioners==		==List of Election Commissioners==
	The following have held the post of the Chief Election Commissioner of India.<ref>{{cite web \|url=~~http~~://~~www.~~eci.gov.in/~~Audio_VideoClips~~/~~previous-ces.asp \|title=Previous Chief Election Commissioners~~ \|publisher=Election Commission of India \|~~url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121060346/http://www.eci.gov.in/Audio_VideoClips/previous-ces.asp \|archive~~-date=~~21 November 2008~~}}</ref>		The following have held the post of the Chief Election Commissioner of India.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Former Chief Election Commissioners \|url=https://eci.gov.in/former-cec-ec/ \|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] \|access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref>

	{\| class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
	\|-		\|-
	! No.		! No.
	! Name		! Name
	! width=75\|Portrait		! width=75\|Portrait
	! colspan="2"\|Term of office		! colspan="3"\|Term of office
	\|-		\|-
	\| 1		\| 1
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	\|[[Sushil Chandra]]		\|[[Sushil Chandra]]
	\| [[File:Sushil Chandra, Election Commissioner of India (cropped).jpg\|75px]]		\| [[File:Sushil Chandra, Election Commissioner of India (cropped).jpg\|75px]]
	\|13 April 2021<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sushil-chandra-appointed-chief-election-commissioner/article34303884.ece ~~{{Bare URL inline~~\|date=~~June~~ 2021}}</ref>		\|13 April 2021<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sushil-chandra-appointed-chief-election-commissioner/article34303884.ece\|title = Sushil Chandra appointed Chief Election Commissioner\|newspaper = The Hindu\|date = 12 April 2021\|last1 = Nath\|first1 = Damini}}</ref>
	\|Incumbent		\|14 May 2022
			\|-
			\|25
			\|[[Rajiv Kumar (civil servant)\| Rajiv Kumar]]
			\|
			\|15 May 2022
			\|''Incumbent''<ref>{{cite news \|title=Rajiv Kumar takes charge as 25th Chief Election Commissioner, says EC won’t shy away from tough calls \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajiv-kumar-assumes-charge-as-chief-election-commissioner/article65416424.ece \|access-date=19 May 2022 \|work=The Hindu \|date=15 May 2022 \|language=en-IN}}</ref>
	\|}		\|}

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{{distinguish|Election Commissioner of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox political post
| post = Chief Election Commissioner of India
| body =
| nativename =
| flag =
| flagsiz =
| flagborder =
| flagcaption =
| insignia = Image:Emblem of India.svg|thumb
| upright = 0.6
| insigniasize = 60
| insigniacaption =
| department = [[Election Commission of India]]
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Sushil Chandra in his office
| incumbent = [[Sushil Chandra]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1711219 |title=Official Press release for President's appointment letter for new Chief Election Commissioner of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/sushil-chandra-to-succeed-sunil-arora-as-cec-to-take-charge-on-april-13/amp_articleshow/82034726.cms |title=As Sunil Arora retires on 12th April and Sushil Chandra will take charge as new Chief Election Commissioner of India}}</ref>

| incumbentsince = 13 April 2021
| style =
| residence =
| nominator = [[Government of India]]
| nominatorpost =
| appointer = [[President of India]]
| appointerpost =
| termlength = 6 years or up to 65 years of age (whichever is earlier)
| inaugural =
| formation =
| last =
| abolished =
| succession =
| deputy = [[Election Commissioners of India]] Deputy Election Commissioners of India
| salary = {{INRConvert|250|k}} per month<ref name="Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991"/><ref name="HC and SC Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Amendment Bill 2008"/>
| website = {{URL|https://eci.gov.in/|Election Commission of India}}
}}

{{Politics of India}}

The '''Chief Election Commissioner of India''' heads the [[Election Commission of India]], a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures and of President and Vice-President. This power of the Election Commission of India is derived from the [[Part XV of the Constitution of India|Article 324]] of the [[Constitution of India]]. Chief Election Commissioner of India is usually a member of the [[Civil Services of India|Indian Civil Service]] and mostly from the [[Indian Administrative Service]]. It is very difficult to remove the authority of the Chief Election Commissioner once appointed by the president, as two-thirds of the [[Lok Sabha]] and the [[Rajya Sabha]] need to present and vote against him for disorderly conduct or improper actions.

Despite the recent{{When|date=June 2017}} changes in the hierarchy, the system always had powers to impose unambiguous rules and guidelines that applied across the entire nation e.g. as to how the ballots will be cast and counted, what will be regarded as 'unqualified' vote.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} India was probably one of the first countries in the world to go for a completely electronic ballot in the parliamentary elections in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-india-stands-out-as-a-gold-standard-in-electronic-voting/articleshow/58666910.cms?from=mdr|title=Why India stands out as a gold standard in electronic voting|date=2017-05-14|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> What made this remarkable was that the [[Election Commission of India]] had successfully implemented this across the entire diverse Indian population that also consisted of the rural illiterate people.

While the office has always been an important one in the machinery of the Indian political process, it gained significant public attention during the tenure of [[T.N. Seshan]], from 1990 to 1996. Seshan is widely credited with undertaking a zealous effort to end corruption and manipulation in Indian elections.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Das|first1=Sanjib Kumar|title=The man who cleaned up India’s elections|url=http://gulfnews.com/culture/people/the-man-who-cleaned-up-india-s-elections-1.1326815|access-date=10 August 2016|work=Gulf News|date=1 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Narasimhan|first1=T. E.|title=The more you kick me...|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/-the-more-you-kick-me-112051200032_1.html|access-date=9 August 2016|work=Business Standard|date=12 May 2012}}</ref><ref name=india1>{{cite news|last1=Srivastava|first1=Ritesh K.(The Observer)|title=Empowering the EC|url=http://zeenews.india.com/blog/empowering-the-ec_658.html|access-date=19 December 2014|publisher=Zee News|date=5 March 2012}}</ref> Though he made significant progress, several politicians attempted to derail these efforts. In particular, the expansion of the Election Commission to include the two [[Election Commissioner of India|Election Commissioners]] (in addition to the Chief Commissioner) was seen as a move to curtail the commissioner's ability to act aggressively.

== Suggested reforms ==

In June 2012, [[Lal Krishna Advani]], a veteran Indian politician and former [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]] (as well as former [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|Leader of the Opposition]] in [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]]),<ref>{{cite web|title=Members Bioprofile|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/Biography.aspx?mpsno=9|publisher=Lok Sabha of India/National Informatics Centre, New Delhi|access-date=27 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429080434/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/Biography.aspx?mpsno=9|archive-date=29 April 2011}}</ref> suggested that appointment of CEC (as well as the [[Comptroller and Auditor General of India]] (CAG)) should be made by a [[bipartisan]] [[collegium]] consisting of the Prime Minister, the [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]], the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Law Minister]] and the Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.<ref name="Karunanidhi backs Advani's view on collegium to appoint CAG, EC">{{cite news|title=Karunanidhi backs Advani's view on collegium to appoint CAG, EC|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-05/india/32055097_1_karunanidhi-backs-collegium-l-k-advani|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101092927/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-05/india/32055097_1_karunanidhi-backs-collegium-l-k-advani|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 November 2013|access-date=5 October 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=5 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="Karunanidhi backs Advani's plea for collegium">{{cite news|title=Karunanidhi backs Advani's plea for collegium|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3493632.ece|access-date=5 October 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=5 June 2012|location=Chennai}}</ref> Subsequently, [[M Karunanidhi]], the head of [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) party and five times [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dmk.in/ |title=DMK's Official Homepage-Chennai-Tamilnadu-India 800x600 screen resolution |publisher=Dmk.in |date=9 December 2011 |access-date=24 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721154756/http://www.dmk.in/ |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> supported the suggestion. Advani made this demand to remove any impression of bias or lack of transparency and fairness because, according to him, the current system was open to "manipulation and [[partisanship]]".<ref name="Karunanidhi backs Advani's view on collegium to appoint CAG, EC"/><ref name="Karunanidhi backs Advani's plea for collegium"/> Similar demand was made by many former CEC's such as [[B B Tandon]], [[N Gopalaswamy]] and [[S Y Quraishi]].<ref name="Collegium needed to select EC: SY Quraishi">{{cite news|title=Collegium needed to select EC: SY Quraishi|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Collegium-needed-to-select-EC-SY-Quraishi/articleshow/14974775.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|date=16 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-CECs backed collegium, Law Ministry not too keen|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/excecs-backed-collegium-law-ministry-not-too-keen/960128/0|access-date=5 October 2012|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=10 June 2012}}</ref>

== Compensation ==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1ex 0 1ex 1ex;"nnngfh

|+ '''Salary of the Chief Election Commissioner'''
! Salary
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | {{INRConvert|250|k|lk=}} monthly<ref name="Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991"/><ref name="HC and SC Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Amendment Bill 2008">{{cite web|title=The High Court and Supreme Court Judges Salaries and Conditions of Service Amendment Bill 2008|url=http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/1230018357/1230018357_The_High_Court_and_Supreme_Court_Judges__Salaries_and_Conditions_of_Service__Amendment_Bill__2008.pdf|publisher=PRS India}}</ref>
|}

By the "Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991", the salary of the chief election commissioner is the same as salary of a Judge of [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref name="Election Commission (Condition of Service of Election Commissions And Transaction of Business) Act, 1991">{{cite web|title=Election Commission (Condition Of Service Of Election Commissions And Transaction Of Business) Act, 1991|url=http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/Laws/Election-Commission-Condition-Of-Service-Of-Election-Commissions-And-Transaction-Of-Business-Act-1991.htm|publisher=Vakil No. 1|access-date=17 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123122252/http://vakilno1.com/bareacts/Laws/Election-Commission-Condition-Of-Service-Of-Election-Commissions-And-Transaction-Of-Business-Act-1991.htm|archive-date=23 January 2013}}</ref> If there are other election commissioners appointed by the President to help the chief election commissioner, they also receive the same salary.

==List of Chief Election Commissioners==
The following have held the post of the Chief Election Commissioner of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eci.gov.in/Audio_VideoClips/previous-ces.asp |title=Previous Chief Election Commissioners |publisher=Election Commission of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121060346/http://www.eci.gov.in/Audio_VideoClips/previous-ces.asp |archive-date=21 November 2008}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%;"
|-
! No.
! Name
! width=75|Portrait
! colspan="2"|Term of office
|-
| 1
|[[Sukumar Sen (civil servant)|Sukumar Sen]]
|[[File:Sukumar Sen.jpg|75px]]
|21 March 1950
|19 December 1958
|-
| 2
|[[Kalyan Sundaram]]
|
|20 December 1958
|30 September 1967
|-
| 3
|[[S. P. Sen Verma]]
|
|1 October 1967
|30 September 1972
|-
| 4
|[[Nagendra Singh]]
|
|1 October 1972
|6 February 1973
|-
| 5
|[[T. Swaminathan]]
|
|7 February 1973
|17 June 1977
|-
| 6
|[[S. L. Shakdhar]]
|
|18 June 1977
|17 June 1982
|-
| 7
|[[R. K. Trivedi]]
|
|18 June 1982
|31 December 1985
|-
| 8
|[[R. V. S. Peri Sastri]]
|
|1 January 1986
|25 November 1990
|-
|9
|[[V. S. Ramadevi]]
|[[File:VS RamaDevi.jpg|75px]]
|26 November 1990
|11 December 1990
|-
|10
|[[T. N. Seshan]]
|[[File:T.N. Seshan in 1994.jpg|75px]]
|12 December 1990
|11 December 1996
|-
|11
|[[M. S. Gill]]
|[[File:Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. M.S. Gill.jpg|75px]]
|12 December 1996
|13 June 2001
|-
|12
|[[James Michael Lyngdoh]]
|
|14 June 2001
|7 February 2004
|-
|13
|[[T. S. Krishnamurthy]]
|[[File:The Chief Election Commissioner Shri T. S. Krishna Murthy delivering the keynote address on "Media Coverage of Election in India towards Free and Fair Elections" at a function organised by Centre for Advocacy and Research (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|8 February 2004
|15 May 2005
|-
|14
|[[B. B. Tandon]]
|[[File:Shri B.B. Tandon in his office after assuming the charge as the Chief Election Commissioner of India in New Delhi on May 16, 2005.jpg|75px]]
|16 May 2005
|29 June 2006
|-
|15
|[[N. Gopalaswami]]
|[[File:The Chief Election Commissioner, Shri N. Gopalaswami announcing the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, at a Press Conference, in New Delhi on March 02, 2009 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|30 June 2006
|20 April 2009
|-
|16
|[[Navin Chawla]]
|[[File:Election Commissioner Shri Navin. B. Chawla releasing Landmark Judgments on Election Law at a meeting with Chief Electoral Officers of all the States, in New Delhi on June 28, 2006 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|21 April 2009
|29 July 2010
|-
|17
|[[S. Y. Quraishi]]
|[[File:Dr. S.Y. Quraishi taking charge as the Chief Election Commissioner of India, in New Delhi on July 30, 2010 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|30 July 2010
|10 June 2012
|-
|18
|[[V. S. Sampath]]
|[[File:Shri V. S. Sampath assuming the charge of the Election Commissioner, in New Delhi on April, 21, 2009.jpg|75px]]
|11 June 2012
|15 January 2015
|-
|19
|[[Harishankar Brahma]]
|[[File:The Chief Election Commissioner, Shri H.S. Bramha addressing a Curtain Raiser Press Conference on the project of seeding of Aadhar with Electoral Roll database, in New Delhi on February 26, 2015 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|16 January 2015
|18 April 2015
|-
|20
|[[Nasim Zaidi]]
|[[File:Dr. Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi assumes the charge as the Election Commissioner of India, in New Delhi on August 07, 2012.jpg|75px]]
|19 April 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/election_comission.aspx|title=Election Commission of India|website=ECI.nic.in|access-date=11 June 2017}}</ref>
|5 July 2017
|-
|21
|[[Achal Kumar Jyoti]]
|[[File:Shri Achal Kumar Joti taking charge as the Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC), in New Delhi on July 06, 2017 (1) (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|6 July 2017<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-chief-election-commissioner-achal-kumar-jyoti-to-take-charge-on-july-6/1/992727.html|title=India's new Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Jyoti to take charge on 6 July|date=3 July 2017|editor-last=Borgohain|editor-first=Sonalee|website=[[India Today]]|access-date=2 September 2017}}</ref>
|22 January 2018
|-
|22
|[[Om Prakash Rawat]]
|[[File:Shri Om Prakash Rawat (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|23 January 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/om-prakash-rawat-to-succeed-ak-joti-as-new-chief-election-commissioner-5033745/|title=Om Prakash Rawat to succeed AK Joti as new Chief Election Commissioner|date=21 January 2018|website=[[The Indian Express]]|publication-place=[[New Delhi]]|access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref>
|1 December 2018
|-
|23
|[[Sunil Arora]]
|[[File:Media address by Chief Election Commissioner of India, Shri Sunil Arora on 2nd December 2018 (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|2 December 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/president-kovind-appoints-sunil-arora-as-new-chief-election-commissioner-5465892/|title=President Kovind appoints Sunil Arora as new Chief Election Commissioner|date=2018-11-26|access-date=2018-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sunil-arora-takes-over-as-chief-election-commissioner-will-oversee-2019-polls/story-xFbXfa07Z5CIX2NNBQWByO.html|title=Sunil Arora takes over as Chief Election Commissioner, will oversee 2019 polls|date=2018-12-02}}</ref>
| 12 April 2021
|-
|24
|[[Sushil Chandra]]
| [[File:Sushil Chandra, Election Commissioner of India (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|13 April 2021<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sushil-chandra-appointed-chief-election-commissioner/article34303884.ece {{Bare URL inline|date=June 2021}}</ref>
|Incumbent
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Chief Election Commissioner of India}}

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{{Chief Election Commissioners of India}}

[[Category:Chief Election Commissioners of India| ]]