Civil society groups seek CEC’s resignation, SC-monitored probe into SIR

Janandolan Maha Maitri (JMM), Citizens for Democracy (CFD) and other civil society groups have demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a Supreme Court-monitored independent investigation into the Centre’s role in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Addressing a press conference in Dharwad on Saturday, S.R. Hiremath, president of JMM and CFD, alleged that the SIR exercise and the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, had raised serious constitutional concerns. He urged the Supreme Court to take up the issues suo motu and to examine the constitutionality of the 2023 Act.

Mr. Hiremath called for an investigation into the role of the Union government, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in the appointment of the election commissioners and the conduct of the SIR exercise. He also sought legal action against the CEC and others who were allegedly responsible for violations.

He said the groups were concerned that the SIR of electoral rolls could lead to the exclusion of eligible voters and undermine universal adult franchise and the right to equality guaranteed by Articles 326 and 14 of the Constitution. He cited concerns raised by former and serving Supreme Court judges on electoral rights and the independence of the Election Commission of India.

Mr. Hiremath demanded restoration of the electoral rolls to the position as on January 1, 2025, and sought a review of the elections held after the revision process, including those in Bihar and West Bengal.

On the 2023 law governing the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners, he said the law replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet Minister on the selection committee, departing from the arrangement laid down by the Supreme Court in its March 2023 judgment in Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India. The change weakened the safeguards for the Election Commission’s independence, he said.

Mr. Hiremath said independent scrutiny of the SIR process and the law governing the appointment of election commissioners was necessary to protect democratic institutions and constitutional principles.

M.C. Haveri and I.G. Pulli of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information, and Lakshman Bakkai and Shameem Mulla of JMM were present.