The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody as the returning officer for the election poll of the 17th vice president of India.
This is a step forward to reoccupy the vacant seat after Jagdeep Dhankhar’s surprise resignation as VP on Monday.
PTI reported that the EC announced in a statement that Mody has been named the returning officer for the 2025 vice presidential election after consulting with the Ministry of Law and Justice and receiving approval from the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Additionally, the EC designated Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, and Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, as assistant returning officers throughout the election.
In addition to selecting a returning officer with an office in the nation's capital, the poll authority may also select one or more assistant returning officers after consulting with the central government.
Conventionally, the returning officer is chosen by rotation from either the secretary general of the Lok Sabha or the secretary general of the Rajya Sabha. The Secretary General of the Lok Sabha served as the returning officer in the most recent vice presidential election.
Members of both Houses of Parliament are part of the electoral college that the poll authority has begun to assemble. The vice presidential election is open to both elected and nominated members.
Dhankhar's resignation from the vice presidential position was formally announced by the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday.
The Tribune had reported that the notification for the Vice Presidential election is likely to be issued within a week, as the polls are to be conducted during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
"On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the election schedule to the office of the Vice President of India will follow as soon as possible," the EC said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to PTI, Clause 2 of Article 68 of the Constitution states that an election will be held "as soon as possible" after the vice president's position becomes vacant in order to fill it, whether it is due to his death, resignation, dismissal, or some other circumstance. The elected individual will have the right to serve "for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters... office" after being elected to the position.
A period of 30 days must pass between the day the notification is sent out, "calling the electoral college to vote", and the day of the poll.
A person cannot be elected as the vice president unless he is a citizen of India, has completed 35 years of age and is qualified for election as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
A person is also not eligible if he holds any office of profit under the government of India or a state government, or any subordinate local authority.
