Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said any fresh impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar would be examined as per the laid-down procedures, amid Opposition protests demanding his removal over alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“We will follow the process when the motion is moved. Just as there is a procedure for the impeachment of judges, there is a process laid down for the CEC too… It will be followed if the opposition moves a motion,” Birla said at a press conference ahead of the 12th Brics Parliamentary Forum, which India is hosting.
Opposition's demands and campaign
The Opposition has been leading protests against Kumar and has met President Droupadi Murmu, demanding his removal and the repeal of the 2023 law that provides immunity to the CEC and Election Commissioners. It has accused the CEC of the “unilateral and arbitrary exercise of the collective powers” during the ongoing revision of electoral rolls.
Under the law, the CEC can be removed by Parliament through a process similar to the impeachment of a Supreme Court judge. The CEC or an Election Commissioner may also resign by submitting a written resignation to the President.
On the petitions seeking the disqualification of rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs who broke away and merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), Birla said the matter was being examined. “The petitions are being heard in the (Supreme) Court and they are also being heard in my court… Both sides are being heard and the proceedings are underway. As soon as we receive their response, we will expedite the process,” he said.
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A TMC faction led by its national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, had petitioned Birla seeking the immediate disqualification of the rebel lawmakers, arguing that their merger amounted to “voluntarily giving up party membership”.
Birla also expressed hope that the two-day Brics Parliamentary Forum, beginning October 26, would adopt a joint declaration by consensus and discuss issues of global concern, including terrorism and climate change.
“I hope there will be a detailed discussion on this issue within BRICS as well,” he said.