SC Refuses To Pass Interim Order To Suspend CEC Gyanesh Kumar
New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday, October 5, refused to pass interim order to suspend chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The petitioners had sought the immediate removal of the election chief over allegations that Kumar unilaterally took decisions without consulting other election commissioners in the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Chief justice Surya Kant-headed bench, however issued notice to the election commission seeking their response to the allegations raised in the petition.
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The bench took note of the submissions of senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for petitioner Rakesh Kumar Singh, and issued the notice to the election body. The court also observed that the ECI must function collectively.
Decisions of the ECI have to be either unanimous or taken by majority, the court pointed out, adding that it presumed that this was how decisions were being taken and indicated that it wanted to hear the poll panel on the allegation of one-man decision-making.
Regarding the suspension demand, the court cautioned that it would stall the functioning of the ECI and affect elections.
