Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti appointed as next CEC

New Delhi: Achal Kumar Joti was appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner on Tuesday.

He will succeed Nasim Zaidi who will retire on July 6.

Zaidi had taken over as the 20th CEC on April 19, 2015.

Joti, 64, a retired 1975-batch IAS officer belonging to the Gujarat Cadre. He retired from active service in January 2013

He has served as former chief secretary of Gujarat and was appointed as the Election Commissioner on May 7, 2015 in the three-member body.

Joti, who will be the 21st CEC, has also served as the Gujarat vigilance commissioner and worked in various capacities in the state, including as the chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and the managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL).

He was also the secretary in the industry, revenue and water supply departments in the state.

Joti will have a tenure of one year.

A CEC or an EC can have a tenure of six years or hold office till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

(With Agency inputs)