Nasim Zaidi appointed next Chief Election Commissioner of India

New Delhi, April 9: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday appointed Election Commissioner, Dr Nasim Zaidi, as the next Chief Election Commissioner ( CEC) of the country.

Zaidi will assume the charge of office with effect from April 19. Present CEC Hari Shankar Brahma demits office on April 18 upon his retirement. Zaidi will have a tenure up to July, 2017 when he attains the age of 65.

The Law Ministry which had earlier initiated the file to appoint the next CEC cited convention of appointing the senior-most Election Commissioner as the CEC.

After Dr Zaidi's appointment, the government will set in motion the process to appoint two Election Commissioners to fill vacancies in the three-member body. "But as of now, we are appointing a new CEC. A decision on ECs will come later," a senior government functionary said.

After Mr Brahma retires on April 19, Dr Zaidi will be the only member of the three-member poll watchdog.

Dr Zaidi's tenure is up to July, 2017 when he attains the age of 65.

A Chief Election Commissioner's tenure of six years in office or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.

A 1976 batch IAS officer, Dr Zaidi has worked in the Civil Aviation Ministry for a long time.

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)