Nazim Zaidi is to be appointed the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) later this month after the later Harishankar Brahma retires on April 19th 2015. His appointment has been signed by the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee Nazim is supposed to hold the position for a tenure of 2 years as he attains age 65 at July 2017 (CEC or EC can hold the post for a tenure of 6 years or till the age of 65 thereby which criteria comes first).
He was elevated from the post of Election Commissioner (EC). The governing body consists of 3 member panel namely one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. Harishanker Brahma was promoted from the post of EC, when VC Sampath retired in Jan 2015. While Brahma also retiring now, the last EC being elevated to post of CEC leaves the governing body shortage of two EC’s.
Knowledge is Wealth
- Harishanker Brahma was the second person after JM.Lyngdoh to attain the post of Election Commissioner. Brahma was a 1975 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh Cadre.
- Nazim Zaidi is a 1976 IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh cadre and has worked in Civil Aviation Ministry for a long tenure. In the ministry he has served as Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
- According to the constitution an Election Commissioner or an Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by the President.
- Nazim Zaidi will be the 20th Chief Election Commissioner to hold the post.