The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India, a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures. The President of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. They have tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

 They enjoy the same official status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through impeachment by Parliament.

Chief Election Commissioners

1 Sukumar Sen : 21 March 1950 to 19 December 1958
2 K. V. K. Sundaram : 20 December 1958 to 30 September 1967
3 S. P. Sen Verma : 1 October 1967 to 30 September 1972
4 Dr. Nagendra Singh : 1 October 1972 to 6 February 1973
5 T. Swaminathan : 7 February 1973 to 17 June 1977
6 S. L. Shakdhar : 18 June 1977 to 17 June 1982
7 R. K. Trivedi : 18 June 1982 to 31 December 1985
8 R. V. S. Peri Sastri : 1 January 1986 to 25 November 1990
9 V. S. Ramadevi : 26 November 1990 to 11 December 1990
10 T. N. Seshan : 12 December 1990 to 11 December 1996
11 M. S. Gill : 12 December 1996 to 13 June 2001
12 J. M. Lyngdoh : 14 June 2001 to 7 February 2004
13 T. S. Krishnamurthy : 8 February 2004 to 15 May 2005
14 B. B. Tandon : 16 May 2005 to 29 June 2006
15 N. Gopalaswami : 30 June 2006 to 20 April 2009
16 Navin Chawla : 21 April 2009 to present