A crisis of credibility?
5 years, 8 months ago

A crisis of credibility?

The Hindu  

The Election Commission of India is a formidable institution which has led the world in electoral efficiency since its inception. Points of concern The letter described the Prime Minister’s March 27 announcement, of India’s first anti-satellite test, as a “serious breach of propriety amounts to giving unfair publicity to the party in power”. The group also requested the EC to “issue directions to withhold the release of all biopics and documentaries on any political personages through any media mechanism until the conclusion of the electoral process”. Other important issues highlighted in the letter included transfers of top officials, voter verifiable paper audit trail audits, violations of the MCC by Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and also corrosion of the political discourse in general. The EC also submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court last February saying it wanted to be empowered “to de-register a political party, particularly in view of its constitutional mandate”.

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History of this topic

AAP chief writes to EC to raid Parvesh Singh’s house for ‘violating’ election code
12 hours, 33 minutes ago

AAP chief writes to EC to raid Parvesh Singh’s house for ‘violating’ election code

The Hindu  

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting to raid the house of his opponent and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from New Delhi Assembly constituency Parvesh Sahib Singh, claiming that he was distributing ₹1,100 each to women in violation of the model code of conduct. Mr. Kejriwal also requested the CEC to suspend …

Atishi writes to CEC again, seeks meeting over alleged voter deletion in New Delhi seat
Top News
1 day, 14 hours ago

Atishi writes to CEC again, seeks meeting over alleged voter deletion in New Delhi seat

The Hindu  

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has written to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, seeking an appointment to discuss alleged electoral roll manipulation in the New Delhi constituency from where AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is contesting the assembly polls. In the latest letter, she again raised the issue of the alleged electoral irregularities in the New Delhi Assembly constituency, urging the CEC …

Petitioners Request Supreme Court To Hear Challenge To Election Commissioners' Law Before Retirement Of CEC In February
Trending News
2 days ago

Petitioners Request Supreme Court To Hear Challenge To Election Commissioners' Law Before Retirement Of CEC In February

Live Law  

On mentioning of the pleas challenging constitutionality of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, which removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel appointing Election Commissioners, the Supreme Court today expressed inclination to hear the matter on February 4. The most notable feature of the new legislation is that the President of India would …

Delhi BJP delegation meets EC over ‘fraud’ in voter list
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Delhi BJP delegation meets EC over ‘fraud’ in voter list

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: A Delhi BJP delegation consisting of the state unit president and MPs met Chief Election Commissioner on Friday to lodge a protest against the alleged inclusion of illegal voters, including Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators. Led by Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, the delegation submitted a detailed representation before the Election Commission along with primary evidence running into 5,000 …

EC invites Congress on Dec. 3 to discuss concerns regarding Maharashtra polls
1 month, 1 week ago

EC invites Congress on Dec. 3 to discuss concerns regarding Maharashtra polls

Deccan Chronicle  

While accepting Congress’s demand for hearing, the EC has also clarified that all due processes were properly followed while holding the Maharashtra election. In its response to Congress’s memorandum, the poll body pointed out that electoral rolls are always prepared and finalised with close involvement of all political parties, the copies of the draft electoral roll published are given to …

Absolute numbers: The Hindu Editorial on the ECI and faith in the process
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Absolute numbers: The Hindu Editorial on the ECI and faith in the process

The Hindu  

A total of 58 Lok Sabha seats in eight States and Union Territories voted on Saturday in the sixth and penultimate phase of the general election 2024. The Election Commission of India released, for the first time in this general election, the absolute number of votes cast in each constituency for the first five phases. The ECI came out with …

Onus is on the ECI to build trust in elections
9 months, 1 week ago

Onus is on the ECI to build trust in elections

Hindustan Times  

The announcement of national polls by the Chief Election Commissioner in the company of two freshly appointed commissioners, and the apex court declining a stay on their appointments, should help quieten down the whispers around the resignation of a sitting commissioner. Significantly, the new appointments were made by a collegium for the first time following the enactment of the Chief …

Can India’s election be rigged? Ahead of vote, old debate gets new life
9 months, 1 week ago

Can India’s election be rigged? Ahead of vote, old debate gets new life

Al Jazeera  

Opposition parties have questioned the reliability of electronic voting machines. New Delhi, India – As he launched the main Indian opposition alliance’s election campaign in the middle of March, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at two targets: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he described as the “king”, and the electronic voting machines that the country uses to cast …

INDIA bloc team seeks intervention of EC over misuse of Central agencies
9 months, 2 weeks ago

INDIA bloc team seeks intervention of EC over misuse of Central agencies

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: A day after the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a nine-member delegation of the INDIA bloc approached the Election Commission of India seeking urgent intervention into the ‘blatant’ use of central agencies against the Opposition. The delegation included Congress MPs K C Venugopal and Abhishek Singhvi, TMC MPs Derek O’Brien and Nadimul Haque, AAP MP Sandeep …

'Will lead to chaos': Supreme Court won't halt Election Commissioners' appointment
9 months, 2 weeks ago

'Will lead to chaos': Supreme Court won't halt Election Commissioners' appointment

India Today  

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it cannot put on hold, the controversial Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, saying it would only lead to chaos. On March 15, the court refused to stay the appointment of new Election Commissioners under the 2023 law, that excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee. A notable …

Selection and election: On the appointment of Election Commissioners
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Selection and election: On the appointment of Election Commissioners

The Hindu  

The quick, if not hasty, filling up of two vacancies in the Election Commission of India has attracted justified criticism. The multi-member body got two new members within days of the resignation of Arun Goel, an Election Commissioner whose appointment itself came in the midst of a Constitution Bench hearing for a truly independent process of selecting members of the …

Election Commission in the eye of a storm
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Election Commission in the eye of a storm

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Last week, the surprise resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel and the subsequent developments ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, triggered a nationwide debate on the neutrality and the independence of the election watchdog. Though the Central government has not made any statement on the reasons for the sudden resignation of the EC yet, a high-powered committee chaired …

'EC Stands For Elections Compromised': Oppn Slams Govt Over Bill To Appoint CEC, ECs
1 year ago

'EC Stands For Elections Compromised': Oppn Slams Govt Over Bill To Appoint CEC, ECs

ABP News  

New Delhi: Several Opposition parties voiced their dissent over the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Bill, 2023, saying that it subjugates the EC to the authority of the executive and seeks to “crush the spirit of democracy”. Expressing apprehension over the Bill, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said the government brought the new legislation to appoint a Chief Election …

Explained | Reform in Election Commission
1 year, 10 months ago

Explained | Reform in Election Commission

The Hindu  

The story so far: On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners by the President will be based on the advice of a three-member high-level committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by …

Top Quotes From Supreme Court Verdict On ECI's Independence
1 year, 10 months ago

Top Quotes From Supreme Court Verdict On ECI's Independence

Live Law  

In a landmark decision, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that a high-power committee consisting of the Indian prime minister, leader of opposition, and chief justice would henceforth pick the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, to ensure that the poll panel is really insulated from political pressure and elections and held in a free and …

‘Certain Section Of Media Turned Unashamedly Partisan; Huge Surge Of Money Power In Elections’: Supreme Court Observes In ECI Case
1 year, 10 months ago

‘Certain Section Of Media Turned Unashamedly Partisan; Huge Surge Of Money Power In Elections’: Supreme Court Observes In ECI Case

Live Law  

In the judgment recommending reform in the process of appointment of members of the Election Commission of India, the Supreme Court, on Thursday, made some crucial observations on democracy and the role of the Commission in upholding it. A Constitution Bench comprising Justices KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar reckoned that in the backdrop of …

India’s opposition hails ‘historic’ move to protect election body’s independence
1 year, 10 months ago

India’s opposition hails ‘historic’ move to protect election body’s independence

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Election Commissioners who oversee state and national elections are …

SC: President to appoint CEC, ECs on advise of committee comprising PM, LoP, CJI
1 year, 10 months ago

SC: President to appoint CEC, ECs on advise of committee comprising PM, LoP, CJI

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: In a landmark verdict aimed at insulating the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners from the executive's interference, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that their appointments will be done by the President on the advise of a committee comprising the prime minister, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. …

Collegium For Appointing Election Commissioners Will Enhance Their Independence : Former CEC SY Quraishi
2 years, 1 month ago

Collegium For Appointing Election Commissioners Will Enhance Their Independence : Former CEC SY Quraishi

Live Law  

Commenting that the system of appointment of Election Commissioners is defective, former Chief Election Commissioner Dr.SY Quraishi said the process should be revamped to ensure the neutrality and independence of the Election Commission of India.Speaking in an interview with LiveLaw, he said, "I have spoken on many occasions that the most powerful Commission in the world has the most. Commenting …

Space, not time: The Hindu Editorial on Election Commissioner tenures
2 years, 1 month ago

Space, not time: The Hindu Editorial on Election Commissioner tenures

The Hindu  

The ongoing hearing before a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India on the need to have a neutral mechanism for appointment of Election Commissioners raises important questions on the election body’s functional independence. However, given the Court’s vocal concern about the ECI’s independence, the relevant question now is whether the Commissioners should be appointed on the recommendation of …

Independence of ECI is crucial
2 years, 1 month ago

Independence of ECI is crucial

Hindustan Times  

If the sustenance of India’s electoral democracy is considered a miracle, then Election Commission of India must be seen as its principal architect. The poll watchdog not only oversees the largest electoral process in the world but also formulates and implements rules to ensure that the poll field remains level. However, despite ECI being a constitutional body, the process of …

Moily, ex-CEC Quraishi support SC observation on appointment of CEC, EC
2 years, 1 month ago

Moily, ex-CEC Quraishi support SC observation on appointment of CEC, EC

Deccan Chronicle  

NEW DELHI: Former Union law minister M Veerappa Moily and ex-chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi on Wednesday supported a consultative mechanism to appoint the CEC and election commissioners, while another former head of the poll panel pushed for a body to appoint judges in the Supreme Court and the high courts. Another CEC, who did not wish to be …

Election Commissioner may be honest, but can have definite political leaning: Supreme Court
2 years, 1 month ago

Election Commissioner may be honest, but can have definite political leaning: Supreme Court

The Hindu  

An Election Commissioner can be proficient, competent, completely honest and armed with an outstanding record of service, but he may have a definite political leaning which may end up displaying itself in office, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court said on Thursday. That is, the Election Commissioners just had to follow the rules and did not have to bother …

Election Commission That Failed Itself
5 years, 7 months ago

Election Commission That Failed Itself

Live Law  

The apolitical institutions of India in the last five years have become more political, flag-bearers and slowly turned into the fan-boys of the ruling establishment. Be it the scheduling of 2019 election in 7 long phases allegedly to favour certain parties, taking timely action against the violations of Model Code of Conduct, stopping campaign keeping in view of certain party's …

Dissent will not be part of EC orders
5 years, 7 months ago

Dissent will not be part of EC orders

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: Rejecting the demand of election commissioner Ashok Lavasa, the ‘Full Commission’ of Election Commission of India on Tuesday ruled that dissents and minority views in EC orders with regard to Model Code of Conduct violations will not be made public and only majority view will be announced in the final order. “In the meeting of the Election Commission …

Election commissioner Ashok Lavasa recuses himself from poll code meets
5 years, 7 months ago

Election commissioner Ashok Lavasa recuses himself from poll code meets

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: A day before the last phase of Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission found itself embroiled in a fresh controversy as election commissioner Ashok Lavasa refused to attend the panel’s meetings related to code violations till he is not allowed to record his dissent. Taking to damage control, Chief Election Commission Sunil Arora on Saturday described as “unsavoury” …

EC invokes Article 324 in West Bengal: Legal precedents show Mamata Banerjee's allegations against election body ill-founded
5 years, 7 months ago

EC invokes Article 324 in West Bengal: Legal precedents show Mamata Banerjee's allegations against election body ill-founded

Firstpost  

In Independent India, Election Commission has time and again asserted its power to ensure this impartiality and what it did in West Bengal was part of its core responsibility. Mamata Banerjee’s targeting of ECI on this ground is completely ill-founded as constitutional provisions, landmark judgments and legal precedents are all in favour of the election watchdog Article 324 of the …

Unfortunate that Election Commission in the dock: SY Qureshi
5 years, 7 months ago

Unfortunate that Election Commission in the dock: SY Qureshi

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: As India goes for sixth and penultimate round of voting, the Election Commission of India faces severe criticism from political parties, and on social media for being biased. For instance, the ECI came under major criticism when it suspended Karnataka-cadre IAS officer Mr Mohammed Mohsin for searching Mr Modi’s helicopter in Sambalpur in Orissa as part of his …

The Election Commission must act tough
5 years, 8 months ago

The Election Commission must act tough

The Hindu  

The 2019 general election will long be remembered not just for the transgressions of the top political leadership, but also for the Election Commission itself being put in the dock. Then I remembered the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” And Plato, “I will put down …

Poll officer dissented in EC decision to give clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah
5 years, 8 months ago

Poll officer dissented in EC decision to give clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah

Firstpost  

On Saturday the Election Commission Saturday gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Patan speech in which he claimed that his government had kept Pakistan on toes for safe release of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. One of the two election commissioners gave a dissenting view in the decision of the ‘full Election Commission’ to give a …

Election Commission has no credibility: Naidu
5 years, 8 months ago

Election Commission has no credibility: Naidu

India TV News  

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said the Election Commission has lost its credibility as it functions on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his office. Raising questions on the poll panel's independence and impartiality, Naidu told reporter outside the EC headquarters here that the level playing field -- an essential attribute of democracy -- …

Debate | Is Criticism of Election Commission of India Justified?
5 years, 9 months ago

Debate | Is Criticism of Election Commission of India Justified?

The Quint  

Talking to Bloomberg Quint’s Tamanna Inamdar, Deb Mukharji, the former High Commissioner to Bangladesh and one of the 66 signatories of the letter sent to EC’s doorstep and SK Mendiratta, former legal advisor of the EC explain the powers that EC can exercise when political players violate Model Code of Conduct. The debate on criticism of the duties discharged by …

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