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New Delhi, July 25, 2025: The Election Commission of India has appointed the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha as Returning Officer for ensuing Vice-Presidential Election, 2025 after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 18 last from the post of Vice President.
In consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, The Election Commission has appointed the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha as Returning Officer for ensuing Vice-Presidential Election, 2025, official sources said today.
The Election Commission has also appointed Garima Jain, Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat and Vijay Kumar, Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat as Assistant Returning Officers during the course of Vice-Presidential Election.
The Election Commission of India, under Article 324, is mandated to conduct the election to the office of the Vice President of India. The election to the office of the Vice President is governed by The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the rules made thereunder, namely the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974, the sources said.
Under Section 3 of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, appoints a Returning Officer, who shall have his office in New Delhi, and may also appoint one or more Assistant Returning Officers. As per convention, either Secretary General, Lok Sabha or Secretary General, Rajya Sabha is appointed as Returning Officer by rotation. During the last Vice-Presidential election, the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha was appointed as the Returning Officer.
Therefore, the Election Commission, in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice and with the consent of the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, has appointed the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha as Returning Officer for ensuing Vice-Presidential Election, 2025, the sources said.
The Commission has also appointed Joint Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat Garima Jain and Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat Vijay Kumar as Assistant Returning Officers during the course of Vice-Presidential Election.
The requisite Gazette Notification is being issued separately today, the sources added.
