Stories
Supreme Court Seeks Election Commission Response Over Gyanesh Kumar Petition
- •The Supreme Court issued notices to the Election Commission of India, the Centre, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a petition.
- •The petition challenges the decision-making process within the poll panel and alleges unilateral actions taken without approval from other commissioners.
- •The court refused to suspend Gyanesh Kumar or pass any interim orders restraining him from functioning as CEC.
- •A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Joymalya Bagchi, and V Mohana stated that ECI decisions must be taken unanimously or by a majority before considering further directions.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Election Commission of India, the Centre, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a petition challenging the panel's decision-making process. However, the court refused to suspend Gyanesh Kumar or pass an interim order to stop him from functioning as CEC, choosing instead to await formal responses from the poll panel before considering further directions.
The petition alleges unilateral decision-making within the Election Commission, claiming that specific choices were executed without the knowledge or approval of the other two Election Commissioners. The court emphasized that decisions made by the ECI must be handled unanimously or by a majority, following requirements under Article 324 and the 2023 Act.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard the matter and issued the notice to the poll panel, the Centre, and the Chief Election Commissioner.
