INDIA Bloc Challenges Legal Protection for Election Commissioners in Supreme Court

The INDIA bloc, comprising parties like the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Left, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is preparing to jointly petition the Supreme Court. The coalition aims to challenge the legal protection granted to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

This legal action comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and various allegations concerning Election Commission decisions. Section 16 of the 2023 Act specifically offers legal protection for acts or words done in the discharge of official duty, extending this immunity to both serving and former CECs and ECs. However, this provision is not a blanket immunity, applying only to actions within their official functions.

A separate Supreme Court petition has already sought action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged unilateral decisions regarding SIR, though the Election Commission asserts that these decisions were unanimous. The opposition has consistently questioned the immunity provisions since the law's introduction, suggesting the government's intent was to shield the CEC for potentially controversial actions like SIR.

What to watch: The Supreme Court's deliberation on the scope and validity of the 2023 law's immunity clause.

Editor's note: The draft accurately synthesizes the provided information without adding external speculation or padding.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: News18 India