Om Birla Says Fresh Impeachment Motion Against Gyanesh Kumar Will Follow Rules
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated on Thursday that if opposition parties submit a fresh notice to initiate impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the matter will be strictly examined in accordance with established parliamentary rules, statutory conventions, and constitutional procedures. The Speaker's remarks come against the backdrop of an intensifying political confrontation in the national capital, where combined opposition blocs have stepped up demands for the CEC's immediate resignation over alleged procedural irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across key states. Clarifying the legislative secretariat's position amid swirling speculation regarding another legislative offensive during upcoming parliamentary sittings, Birla emphasized that the Lok Sabha operates purely under established rulebooks, and any substantive motion tabled by lawmakers will undergo constitutional scrutiny without partisan deviation.
Two Prior Removal Bids: Parliamentary Record and Pending Rajya Sabha Notices
The escalating push for the CEC's removal follows two previous attempts by opposition benches to trigger removal proceedings against the head of the constitutional poll body. While the initial round of impeachment notices was formally rejected by the presiding officers in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for failing to meet requisite procedural thresholds, notices submitted during the second attempt remain actively pending before the secretariat of the Upper House. Over the past fortnight, opposition floor leaders and political outfits have mounted aggressive public demonstrations demanding accountability, arguing that unilateral deletions and opaque additions during the voter roll revision compromise democratic integrity. Addressing parliamentary correspondents on whether the presiding table would admit a third legislative motion, Speaker Birla reiterated that every communication is assessed on its individual merits, statutory compliance, and backing signatures as prescribed under constitutional provisions governing the removal of high constitutional dignitaries.
Internal ECI Rift Deepens: Sandhu and Joshi’s 14 Objections Over SIR Decisions
The political offensive against Gyanesh Kumar gained major momentum following recent disclosures revealing that fellow Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi had officially recorded written dissent against SIR-related directives at least 14 times over the past 10 months. According to internal commission documentation, both commissioners flagged serious objections regarding the authenticity and verification mechanics of the digital voter database, alleging that critical administrative orders and revision mandates were promulgated without their prior consultation, recommendation, or collegiate approval. This documented lack of internal consensus inside Nirvachan Sadan has placed the management of the Special Intensive Revision under unprecedented public and judicial scrutiny, transforming routine electoral list updates into a full-blown institutional controversy that opposition parties are leveraging to question the poll body's neutrality ahead of crucial assembly elections.
