New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to pass any interim order on a petition seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The plea stems from a controversy linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It was alleged that the CEC took decisions on the exercise without consulting the other Election Commissioners. While two Election Commissioners had written to the Cabinet Secretary, it was later clarified that the letter was not a complaint but related to a transfer matter.
Despite the clarification, a petition was filed challenging decisions allegedly taken without the consent of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, and also seeking the CEC’s suspension. The matter was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Jaymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana.
Appearing for petitioner Rakesh Kumar Singh, senior advocate Vikas Singh argued that citizens were feeling insecure about their voting rights and that interim steps were necessary. The court issued notices to the Election Commission of India, CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi, and Deputy Election Commissioner Manish Garg, IAS.
However, the bench refused interim relief, stating it would reconsider if it is established that decisions were taken unilaterally without unanimous consent of the other Election Commissioners.
