Dr. Nasim Zaidi appointed as Chief Election Commissioner of India

President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 9 April 2015 appointed Dr. Nasim Zaidi as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). He will assume the charge of office of the CEC with effect from 19 April 2015.

Zaidi is the 20th CEC of India and will succeed Harishankar Brahma who will demit his office on 18 April 2015.

He will have tenure up to July 2017 when he attains the age of 65, the upper age limit under the Constitution for holding the post.

Zaidi is the senior-most Election Commissioner after Harishankar Brahma and he was appointed as CEC following the convention in which the senior-most EC is appointed as the CEC.

Dr. Nasim Zaidi carries a rich experience of working in regulatory framework both at national & international levels.

He has been associated with the conduct of fair and free Elections of 15 states assemblies and Lok Sabha 2014.

He assumed charge as Election Commissioner of India on 7 August 2012. Before this he served as a long-time civil servant of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) 1976 batch.

He was instrumental in formulating Financial Restructuring and Turnaround Plan of Air India (AI) and also setting up the Dharmadhikari Committee to ensure merger process of AI.

Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
Article 324 (2) under Part XV of the Constitution of India provides for appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (EC) by the President.

The CEC and the two EC draw salaries and allowances at par with those of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India as provided for by the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1992.

The tenure of CEC or an EC is six years from the date on which he assumes his office or 65 years of age whichever is earlier.