RS, LS reject notice to impeach CEC Gyanesh Kumar signed by 193 MPs
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New Delhi: A motion seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, signed by 193 MPs and introduced in both Houses of Parliament, was rejected on April 6 by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman as well as Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan. No reasons were provided for the decision.
The notices had been submitted separately in each House. In the Rajya Sabha, 63 MPs signed the motion moved on March 12, while in the Lok Sabha, a separate notice signed by 130 MPs was introduced the same day. Later, both Houses issued nearly identical bulletins confirming the rejection, the Wire reported.
"After due consideration of the notice of Motion and a careful and objective assessment of all relevant aspects and issues involved, the Chairman, Rajya 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," a notification from the Rajya Sabha Secretary General said.
"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," an identical bulletin published in the Lok Sabha said, PTI reported.
As per the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner follows the same procedure and grounds as that of a Supreme Court judge. Under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, an impeachment motion must be supported by at least 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha or 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, after which the Speaker or Chairman has the authority to admit or reject it.
Following the rejection, opposition leaders criticised the move, alleging that it undermined parliamentary processes. Sagarika Ghose of the Trinamool Congress was reported to have argued that the notice contained detailed rules and specific instances of alleged misconduct, yet it was dismissed without explanation, which she suggested was unsurprising.
“Notice to remove CEC Vanish Kumar by Rajya Sabha MPs rejected. Reason? NO REASON GIVEN. BJP keep mocking our great Parliament. SHAME,” TMC MP Derek O'Brien wrote on X.
In a statement, Rajya Sabha Congress MP Jairam Ramesh referred to former Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, noting that he had resigned abruptly last year. Ramesh suggested that the circumstances surrounding Dhankhar’s exit were linked to his decision to accept a petition moved by Opposition MPs.
According to a report by The Wire, the decision to submit an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar followed protests over the Election Commission’s special intensive revision of electoral rolls.
The report also indicated that opposition parties had previously considered moving an impeachment motion after Kumar’s first press conference in August last year, during which he rejected allegations of vote theft. He was said to have described those claims as attempts to mislead the public and as disrespectful to the Constitution.
