State Election Commissioners (SECs) are likely to get the status of a High Court judge, a fixed tenure and better working conditions. Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar has written to all Chief Ministers asking them to enact a law to this effect.

The letter sent by Aiyar recently said certain protection had been provided for the conditions of service of the SECs to ensure the independence and autonomy of the post.

He said according to Clause 2 of Article 243K of the Constitution, the conditions of service of the SEC shall be determined by the Governor and that an SEC shall not be removed from his office except in the manner and grounds as a judge of a High Court.

He said a discussion on the issue had culminated in the drafting of a Model State Election Commissioner (Conditions of Service) Bill. The Bill also lays down that the SEC should have a fixed tenure of five years.