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Supreme Court to hear petitions against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Supreme Court hears petitions against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over voter roll revisions.
In brief
Supreme Court hears petitions against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over voter roll revisions. India's Supreme Court will hear petitions seeking suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged unilateral decisions in voter roll revisions. Originally reported by Dw.
Supreme Court issues notice
India's Supreme Court has issued notice to the Election Commission of India seeking its response to petitions against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter roll revisions.
“The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Election Commission of India, seeking the body's response to the allegations against Kumar”
Protests demand resignation
Thousands of protesters and opposition supporters rallied in Delhi and Mumbai over the weekend demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
“The hearing comes after thousands of protesters and opposition supporters rallied in Delhi and Mumbai over the weekend to demand Kumar's resignation”
SIR voter roll controversy
Critics claim the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter roll revisions disenfranchised millions by striking names from electoral rolls without proper oversight.
“Critics say a nationwide voter-verification exercise, called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which began last year, has disenfranchised millions of eligible voters by striking their names from electoral rolls”
Election Commission defends process
The Election Commission of India states the voter roll revisions remove deceased, relocated, and duplicate voters while preventing 'foreign illegal immigrants' from being included.
“The Election Commission of India rejects allegations of wrongdoing and says the process removes deceased, relocated and duplicate voters and also prevents the inclusion of "foreign illegal immigrants"”
Alleged misconduct by Kumar
The Indian Express reported that two of Kumar's fellow election commissioners raised at least 14 formal objections over 10 months regarding voter registrations, deletions, and data control.
“Kumar has been under intense public scrutiny after the Indian Express daily reported that two of his fellow election commissioners raised at least 14 formal objections over 10 months regarding voter registrations, deletions and restorations, as well as control of electoral roll data, but those concerns were not taken into consideration”
Legal petitions seek action
Petitions seek Kumar's suspension, a declaration that the chief election commissioner cannot act without concurrence from two other commissioners, and revocation of 14 unilateral decisions.
“One of the petitions is seeking a declaration that the chief election commissioner cannot take decisions for the ECI without the concurrence of the other two Election Commissioners”
Cockroach Janta Party involvement
The Cockroach Janta Party movement's legal affairs head Ratna Singh stated that a journalist who alleged sexual harassment by an ACP was among the detained protesters.
“The Cockroach Janata Party movement's legal affairs head Ratna Singh said that the journalist who alleged sexual harassment by an ACP was among the detained”
Protesters report police detentions
Protesters reported being detained after demanding CCTV footage of alleged police sexual harassment of women journalists during the October 3 protests.
“The protesters were reportedly staging an overnight demonstration demanding an examination of the CCTV footage of the alleged incident and an action on the complaints”
Rahul Gandhi criticizes police
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused Delhi Police of mistreating female protesters and journalists, claiming they were 'posing a threat to them' instead of protecting them.
“Rahul Gandhi railed against the Delhi Police over the alleged mistreatment of female protesters and journalists”
Supreme Court no suspension
The Supreme Court declined to suspend Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar despite petitions seeking interim relief.
“The Supreme Court declined to pass any interim order to suspend Kumar, an action sought by one of the petitions”
Legal action sought
Petitions request an independent judicial inquiry commission or special investigation team headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe allegations against Kumar.
“The other seeks a revocation of the 14 reported decisions allegedly taken unilaterally, along with the constitution of an independent judicial inquiry commission or a special investigation team headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to probe the allegations against Kumar”
Election Commission response
The Election Commission of India has not commented on the petitions but maintains the voter roll revisions are necessary to remove ineligible voters.
“Kumar is yet to make a comment on the allegations against him”
Protesters demand action
Protesters demanded an investigation into police misconduct and the release of CCTV footage from the October 3 protests against Kumar's resignation.
“We went back and again asked for the CCTV footage, but they did not provide it. They did not register an FIR (First Information Report) or give us any update on the case”
CJ's bench to hear petitions
A three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant will hear petitions seeking Kumar's suspension and review of 14 unilateral decisions.
“On Monday, a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, is expected to hear petitions over the decisions taken by Kumar allegedly without the approval of the two election commissioners”
Political implications
Opposition parties and critics allege the voter roll revisions benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which denies the claim.
“Opposition parties and critics allege that the changes to voter lists benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a charge the party denies”
Next steps
The Supreme Court will review petitions and may recall decisions made by Kumar without the required unanimity from the Election Commission.
“If records show some decision was not unanimous etc., we will injunct those decisions”
What matters most
India's Supreme Court will hear petitions seeking suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged unilateral decisions in voter roll revisions.
