New Delhi, Delhi
The Supreme Court will hear petitions on Monday seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the annulment of certain decisions allegedly taken by him. The petitions raise questions over whether the CEC individually exercised powers that, under the law, are vested in the Election Commission as a whole.
The case will be heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana are also members of the bench. The petitions have been filed by Patna resident Rakesh Kumar Singh and advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi.
The petitioners have alleged that Gyanesh Kumar made certain changes to guidelines and software related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) without the consent or recommendation of the other two Election Commissioners. The allegations have raised questions about the Election Commission’s decision-making process and the exercise of its powers.
The petitions reportedly seek the reversal of such decisions and the suspension of the Chief Election Commissioner. The Supreme Court’s hearing is considered significant as it involves questions concerning the Election Commission’s collective decision-making process and the powers of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The petitioners have also reportedly cited a media report claiming that during the past 10 months, the other two Election Commissioners objected at least 14 times to decisions that were allegedly issued without their knowledge.
Attention will now be focused on the Supreme Court’s observations and the legal position it takes on the claims and issues raised in the petitions.
