The Supreme Court, after inspecting official files on November 24, said the appointment of Arun Goel as Election Commissioner was done with “lightning speed”, the procedure taking less than 24 hours from start to finish on November 18.

A Constitution Bench led by Justice K.M. Joseph had asked Attorney General R. Venkataramani on November 23 to produce the files concerning Mr. Goel’s appointment after petitioners alleged that it was “hurriedly” done, in fact, the very next day after the court started examining the need to insulate the Election Commission of India (ECI) from political influence by setting up a “neutral and independent mechanism” for appointment of Election Commissioners.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, for the petitioner, said that Mr. Goel was a Secretary in the government on Friday. He took voluntary retirement that day and was appointed as Election Commissioner on Saturday and took charge on Monday.

“It was done with such haste… with a tearing urgency… You did not require time to contemplate?” Justice Joseph asked the government side.

Justice Ajay Rastogi, on the five-judge Bench, said the Election Commissioner’s post was vacant from May.

“The vacancy was there from May to November 18… Now, what prevailed on the government that everything needed to be done within the shortest possible time… This superfast mechanism… We know that where there is a will there’s a way, but here the notification was brought out on the same day, the application was given the same day, it was accepted the same day and the appointment was made the same day… The file has not travelled even 24 hours! Lightning speed… What kind of evaluation was there?” Justice Rastogi asked.

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