Oppn to move Parliament motion seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s removal:Congress says notices in both houses will be submitted soon

Opposition parties are preparing to submit fresh notices in both Houses of Parliament seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, sources said on Thursday. The notice is being drafted in consultation with legal experts and is likely to be submitted in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha by next week, the sources said. INDIA bloc parties are working together on the move, which they described as a collective effort. This will be the Opposition’s third attempt to move a removal motion against Kumar. Fresh notice follows Indian Express report on SIR The proposed move follows a report by The Indian Express that raised questions over differences within the three-member Election Commission regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to the report, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on record at least 14 times over the past 10 months to certain decisions and orders that they said were issued without their knowledge. The objections reportedly covered changes to statutory voter registration Form 6, the handling of additions and deletions from electoral rolls, and centralised control of the voter database. Indian Express report flags objections over SIR The proposed motion comes after an investigation by The Indian Express reported that questions were raised within the three-member Election Commission over issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). According to the report, such objections were recorded at least 14 times over the past 10 months. The report said the objections were raised by two of the three Election Commissioners — Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. The reported objections relate to issues surrounding the implementation of SIR and the functioning of the electoral-roll revision process. Opposition move follows reported differences within EC The report has brought attention to differences of opinion within the Election Commission over SIR-related matters. The Election Commission, however, has said that differences in opinions, suggestions and comments are normal in a multi-member constitutional body. It has also maintained that all final decisions taken by the Commission over the past year, including those concerning SIR, were unanimous. Earlier removal notice pending in Rajya Sabha A notice submitted by 73 Opposition MPs on April 24 seeking Kumar’s removal is currently pending in the Rajya Sabha. Sources said the fresh notice would be submitted in view of the findings reported by The Indian Express. In the Opposition’s first attempt, notices seeking Kumar’s removal were submitted in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha but were rejected. EC says differing views are part of deliberations The Election Commission responded to the report on Wednesday, saying differences in views and observations are a normal part of deliberations in any institution. The poll panel said all its orders have full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures. It also said that the three Election Commissioners, as well as EC officers, are authorised to offer suggestions aimed at improving the electoral system. The EC has maintained that all final decisions taken by the Commission, including those concerning SIR, were unanimous.