2 months ago
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Two days aft 193 Opposition parliamentarians submitted a announcement successful some Houses of Parliament seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) Rajya Sabha person Derek O’Brien said that if the announcement was not taken up, it would rise doubts astir a “tacit understanding” betwixt the CEC and the Executive.
His remarks came connected a time erstwhile Mr. Kumar reiterated the request for conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing “pure electoral rolls” arsenic the “bedrock of immoderate democracy”.
Mr. O’Brien maintained that the Opposition’s announcement was afloat successful order. “If the announcement is not taken up by the Union government, doubts volition beryllium raised astir a tacit knowing betwixt the Executive and the CEC,” helium said.
The Opposition’s 10-page announcement lists 7 charges against Mr. Kumar, ranging from “partisan and discriminatory behaviour successful office” to “deliberate obstruction of probe of electoral fraud” and “mass disenfranchisement”. Opposition parties person repeatedly accused the CEC of aiding the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), peculiarly during the ongoing SIR process, which they allege is being utilized to payment the ruling party.
Under the rules, the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha indispensable jointly represent a committee to analyse the complaint. After completing its inquiry, the committee submits its study to the Speaker oregon the Chairman, who is required to spot it earlier the respective Houses. If the committee finds merit successful the charges, the question for removal is past taken up for information and debate.
For the question to pass, astatine slightest two-thirds of members “present and voting” successful some Houses indispensable enactment the removal, and the votes successful favour indispensable besides represent much than 50% of the full rank of each House. Once some Houses follow the question by a peculiar majority, it is sent to the President of India.
