Retired IAS Officer Arun Goel Appointed As New Election Commissioner

Arun Goel is a retired IAS officer of the Punjab Cadre, 1985 batch. The announcement has been made a day after Goel took voluntary retirement.

The Government of India on Saturday appointed IAS Arun Goel (Retd.) as Election Commissioner in the Election Commission. The Ministry of Law and Justice, through a press release, informed about the appointment of IAS Arun Goel (Retd.) as the Election Commissioner.

The official release says, "The President is pleased to appoint Shri Arun Goel, IAS (Retd.) (PB: 1985) as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission with effect from the date he assumes the office."

Goel will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in the poll panel. 

A 1985 batch Punjab Cadre Indian Administrative Service officer, Arun Goel has served as the Secretary to Government of India. He superannuated in August 2019 from the Cabinet Secretariat as Secretary (Coordination). He has over 34 years of experience with Centre and State governments as well as with Union Territory Administrations particularly in areas of power, finance, commerce and industry. 

The government made the announcement a day after Goel took voluntary retirement from his role as the Heavy Industries Secretary. Arun Goel retired as Heavy Industries secretary on November 18.  

The IAS officer took voluntary retirement a month before he was scheduled to retire officially. He was to retire on December 31, 2022 after completing 60 years of age. 

Goel’s date of appointment as Election Commissioner is yet unclear.  

Kamran Rizvi, a 1991 batch IAS officer, will succeed Goel as Secretary. He was, last month, appointed as the Officer on Special Duty in the Heavy Industries Ministry. 

The Personnel Ministry, through an order, has appointed Rizvi as Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries.  

The order said that Rizvi, a 1991 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, "Will take over as Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries vice Shri Arun Goel, IAS (PB:85) upon his voluntary retirement on 18.11.2022". 

The development comes at a time when assembly elections are scheduled to take place in the state of Gujarat in less than two weeks' time. The state will go to polls on December 1 and December 5.  

The results of polls in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, held earlier this month, will be declared on December 8.  

(With PTI Inputs)