RAS question
The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office in the same manner as:
Correct answer: (B) A judge of the Supreme Court.
The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office in the same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Explanation
Article 324(5) gives the Chief Election Commissioner a removal safeguard equivalent to that of a Supreme Court judge. The Election Commission of India’s own about page states that the President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, and that the Chief Election Commissioner “can be removed from office in like manner and on like grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.” This is why the comparison in the question is not with political offices such as the Vice-President or Governor, or with membership of Parliament. The point is the special constitutional protection attached to the CEC’s office: other Election Commissioners are removable only on the CEC’s recommendation, while the CEC’s removal standard is tied to the Supreme Court judge model.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The Vice-President is removed by a different constitutional process, so that office is not the model used for removing the Chief Election Commissioner.
- (C) A Governor holds office at the pleasure of the President, which is unlike the protected removal standard applied to the Chief Election Commissioner.
- (D) A member of Parliament may face disqualification, but that is not the same removal mechanism used for the Chief Election Commissioner.
Concept
This tests Article 324(5) and the constitutional safeguards around the Election Commission of India. RAS repeatedly asks such provisions because independent constitutional bodies are central to governance and election administration.