7 hrs ago
Election Panel Disputes Raise Questions About Public Confidence
The Election Commission of India is checking and changing voter lists.
More than 13 crore names have reportedly been removed during this process.
A report said two Election Commissioners questioned some decisions many times.
Their concerns included adding, removing, and restoring voters.
They also raised questions about appeals and the safety of the voter list.
The Commission says all decisions were approved unanimously by all three Commissioners.
The article says that following the rules is not enough if people do not trust the process.
It calls for the Commission to publish its procedures and objections so citizens can understand what happened.
More than 13 crore names have reportedly been removed from electoral rolls during the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision.
A media report said Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months.
The reported objections involved voter registration, deletions, restorations, appeals, and custody of electoral rolls.
The Election Commission’s official position is that all decisions, including the revision, were unanimous and approved by all three Commissioners.
The article argues that the Commission should publish relevant procedures, objections, and decisions to protect public trust.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- What
- A controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and reported internal objections by two Election Commissioners.
- Where
- India, within the Election Commission of India’s electoral-roll revision process.
- When
- The objections were reportedly made at least 14 times over the previous 10 months; the latest controversy followed a media report.
- Why
- The issue has raised concerns about transparency, internal decision-making, and public confidence in the poll panel.
Transparency concerns
Official defense of the process
Meaning of the recorded objections
Transparency concerns
Repeated objections by two Commissioners reportedly raise questions about opacity and internal disagreement, even though no formal dissent was filed.
Official defense of the process
An official said the decisions were unanimous and had the approval of both Election Commissioners and the Chief Election Commissioner.
Whether the CEC acted improperly
Transparency concerns
The article argues that formal legality alone is insufficient and that the Commission must demonstrate independent, collective, and transparent decision-making.
Official defense of the process
The article acknowledges that the Chief Election Commissioner cannot overrule the other Commissioners, decisions are made by majority, and there is no technical indication that Gyanesh Kumar violated a rule.
How to restore confidence
Transparency concerns
The Commission should publish relevant procedures, objections, and decisions so citizens can assess its functioning.
Official defense of the process
The Commission’s stated position implies that existing unanimous approvals support the legitimacy of its decisions.
Key facts
- Institution
- Election Commission of India
- Exercise
- Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
- Reported deletions
- More than 13 crore names
- Reported objections
- At least 14 objections over 10 months
- Commissioners named
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Official position
- All Election Commission decisions, including the revision, were unanimous and approved by all three Commissioners
Quotes
An official familiar with the matter
An official cited in media reports about the Election Commission's decision-making
“The national rollout of the SIR has been under the supervision of all three Commissioners. But Sandhu and Joshi have formally objected, on record, at least 14 times over the last 10 months—four times on a single day—to decisions taken and orders issued, without their knowledge.”
thehansindia.com
“All decisions of the Election Commission of India, including SIR, have been unanimous and with the approval of both the election commissioners and the chief election commissioner.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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