The Opposition, in an effort led by the Trinamool Congress, had submitted impeachment motions against Kumar. (File Photo)
Over three weeks after the Opposition submitted motions to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from office in both Houses of Parliament, the presiding officers on Monday rejected both motions, while not assigning any reason for their decisions.
The Opposition, in an effort led by the Trinamool Congress, had submitted impeachment motions against Kumar in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on March 12, with 130 MPs signing in the former and 63 in the latter. To be admitted, an impeachment motion needs to be signed by at least 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha. They had alleged “partisan and discriminatory conduct” and “obstruction of investigation into electoral fraud and SIR”, referring to the EC’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, on the part of the CEC.
The decisions taken by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla were communicated through respective Parliamentary Bulletins published on Monday night. Both bulletins said that the chairman and speaker had “refused to admit the said notice of motion” “after due consideration of the notice of Motion and a careful and objective assessment of all relevant aspects and issues involved”. They both invoked their power under Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 to do so. The removal of a CEC is governed by the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
The Opposition quickly panned the move. “Notice to remove CEC Vanish Kumar by Rajya Sabha MPs rejected. Reason? NO REASON GIVEN. BJP keep mocking our great Parliament. SHAME,” TMC MP Derek O’Brien said in a post on X.
After being critical of the Election Commission’s conduct for the past few years, the Opposition decided to move the motions to remove the CEC in the wake of the EC’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, that they alleged was targeted towards removing Opposition voters. The notices filed on March 12 became the first time that an effort to remove a CEC was undertaken.
The impeachment attempt was seen as a political message, as even if the motions were admitted, the Opposition does not have the numbers to pass the motion.
Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
