NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday is hearing petitions seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, with the pleas questioning whether he exercised certain powers of the Election Commission without the approval of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana is hearing the petitions filed by Patna resident Rakesh Kumar Singh and advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi.
The petitions raise concerns over the decision-making process within the Election Commission, particularly in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The pleas follow an Indian Express report which claimed that Sandhu and Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months regarding decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise. According to the report, the objections concerned orders allegedly issued without their knowledge or recommendation.
The matter has brought renewed focus on the functioning of the Election Commission and the extent to which decisions can be taken by the Chief Election Commissioner without the concurrence of the other Election Commissioners.
The Supreme Court’s hearing could provide clarity on the legal and constitutional questions surrounding the powers and decision-making procedures of the Election Commission.
