New Delhi, 13 March (H.S.): In a bold escalation against the Election Commission, opposition parties led by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday tabled notices in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to remove Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar from office.The 10-page proposals cite seven specific grounds for his dismissal, marking a rare invocation of impeachment-like proceedings.

The Lok Sabha notice bears signatures from 130 members, while the Rajya Sabha version has 63 signatories—exceeding the threshold of 100 and 50 members respectively required under parliamentary rules.

Notably, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha and Mallikarjun Kharge in the Rajya Sabha refrained from signing, adhering to procedural norms that bar them from endorsing such motions.

TMC MP Saugata Roy addressed reporters at the Parliament's Makar Dwar gate, affirming that his party had formally notified the Houses in line with legal requirements for an impeachment motion against CEC Kumar. Roy accused the CEC of orchestrating the deletion of names from electoral rolls, thereby disenfranchising voters—a charge the opposition INDIA bloc claims justifies this collective action.

Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the CEC's removal mirrors the process for impeaching a Supreme Court judge, ensuring robust safeguards.

The prescribed mechanism requires at least 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha members to submit a notice to the Speaker or Chairman. Upon acceptance, a three-member inquiry committee is constituted to scrutinize the allegations. If deemed credible, the motion proceeds to a vote, needing a special majority in both Houses: over half of the total membership plus at least two-thirds of members present and voting.

This high-stakes gambit underscores deepening rifts over electoral integrity ahead of key polls, with the opposition framing it as a defense of democratic fairness.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar