New Delhi, Sept 24: Opposition parties are set to move an impeachment motion notice against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in both Houses of Parliament, with the Congress reaching out to other opposition parties over the issue, party sources said on Thursday.
The notice is expected to be submitted within the next two weeks, according to Congress sources.
The move comes after fresh allegations and political exchanges over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), following media reports related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The Indian Express published a fresh report stating that the Goa Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) wrote to authorities in Delhi eight times within seven days seeking access to certain facilities, but received no response.
The report followed an earlier media report which claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over a period of 10 months regarding decisions and orders linked to the SIR process.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday lodged a formal complaint at Parliament Street Police Station against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of procedural violations, unilateral decision-making, and manipulation of electoral rolls.
Speaking to ANI after submitting the complaint, Moitra questioned the legal immunity provided to the Chief Election Commissioner under the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
She said the protection from prosecution applies only when the Election Commission acts collectively as a multi-member body.
"I have come today to the Parliament Street Police Station and given a complaint to the police station here against 'Chor' Gyanesh Kumar, who is the Chief Election Commissioner of this country. And apparently he enjoys immunity under the CEC and EC Act of 2023, Section 16, which says that the Election Commissioners enjoy immunity from civil and criminal prosecution in the discharge of their duties. I'd like to point out that if acting as a concerted body, they may enjoy immunity," Moitra told ANI.
Furthermore, Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari also criticised the recent decisions of the poll body, alleging that the country was witnessing a serious blow to its democratic foundation.
(ANI)
