CEC Gyanesh Kumar (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan on Monday rejected the impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, who has been facing opposition’s heat over the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the “conduct” of the recent assembly polls.A separate notification from the Lok Sabha Secretary General said a notice of Motion dated March 12, 2026 signed by 130 Members of Lok Sabha under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, read with Article 124(4) thereof, Section 11(2) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, was submitted to the Speaker, seeking the removal of Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner.“After due consideration of the notice of Motion and a careful and objective assessment of all relevant aspects and issues involved therein, the Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha, in exercise of the powers vested to him under Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, has refused to admit the said notice of Motion,” it said.It was the first time a notice was given seeking removal of the poll body chief, with 130 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha members signing the motion.
The 10-page-long notice carried a chargesheet on seven counts. The charges ranged from partisan conduct of the CEC to mass disenfranchisement of voters.The opposition had also raised the issue of the way the CEC handled SIR in previous elections like Bihar and forthcoming elections in states like West Bengal; his “proved misbehaviour”; his partial conduct towards a political party are also issues that find a mention in the notice.The notice for removal of the CEC, piloted by TMC, came after growing accusations from opposition parties against Gyanesh Kumar.They accused the CEC of bias and carrying out the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in an arbitrary manner in a bid to aid the BJP.West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been leading protests over the SIR process in her state. Other opposition parties too have been attacking the CEC, with Rahul Gandhi steering the “vote chori” campaign.Reacting to the rejection of the notice, TMC’s Rajya Sabha member said: “BJP keep mocking our great Parliament”.
BJP leaders had criticised the opposition’s proposal, arguing that political parties should focus on electoral contests instead of targeting the Election Commission.The motion, which stands rejected, required to be passed in Parliament by a special majority, according to parliamentary provisions.
