NEW DELHI — In an unprecedented move, 193 Members of Parliament from the INDIA bloc and the AAP have signed a formal notice seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This marks the first time in Indian history that such a motion has been initiated against a CEC.
The notice, signed by 130 Lok Sabha and 63 Rajya Sabha members, far exceeds the legal requirement of 100 and 50 signatures respectively.
The Allegations:
The opposition has leveled seven specific charges against the CEC, including:
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Partisan Conduct: Accusations of aiding the ruling party through discriminatory actions.
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Electoral Roll Manipulation: Allegations of “mass disenfranchisement” during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, particularly in West Bengal.
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Obstruction of Justice: Claims of deliberate interference in investigations concerning electoral fraud.
The Impeachment Process:
Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, a CEC can only be removed in the same manner as a Supreme Court Judge:
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Admittance: The motion must be admitted by the Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman.
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Inquiry Committee: A three-member panel—comprising a Supreme Court judge, a High Court Chief Justice, and a distinguished jurist—will investigate the charges.
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Special Majority: If the committee finds merit, the motion must be passed by both Houses with a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
The notice is expected to be tabled in Parliament on Friday, setting the stage for a major constitutional and political showdown.
