Supreme Court Refuses to Suspend CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The Supreme Court has refused to immediately suspend Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while agreeing to examine allegations that several Election Commission decisions linked to the Special Intensive Revision were taken without the approval of the other two Election Commissioners.
Supreme Court Refuses Interim Suspension of CEC
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, declined to pass an ex parte interim order restraining Gyanesh Kumar from functioning as CEC.
The court said it could not act on assumptions or media reports without first obtaining responses from the Election Commission and other parties.
Notices have been issued to the Centre, Election Commission, Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, and other officials.
Plea Challenges SIR-Related Election Commission Decisions
The petition alleges that several important decisions connected with the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls were taken in the name of the Election Commission despite objections recorded by the two Election Commissioners.
The petitioner has sought scrutiny of internal records to determine whether statutory requirements governing decision-making within the three-member Commission were followed.
The allegations have not yet been established before the court.
Court Says Decisions Could Be Revisited
The Supreme Court indicated that if official records later show that particular decisions were taken without the approval required under law, those decisions could be reconsidered or set aside.
The Election Commission and other respondents have been asked to file their responses before further consideration of the petition.
The court’s decision means Gyanesh Kumar will continue functioning as Chief Election Commissioner while the legal challenge proceeds.
