The row over the revision of electoral rolls in India has taken a dramatic new turn, with protests unfolding across the country. Over two months after the Cockroach Janta Party led a protest for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the youth pressure group is back on the streets, this time in India's financial capital, Mumbai, gunning for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.&nbsp;Thousands have gathered at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.&nbsp;Quirky posters and satirical memes have flooded the protest site, even as protesters waive the tricolour and raise slogans against the Chief Election Commissioner. Heavy security has been deployed in and around Shivaji Park, with additional police personnel and barricades in place.&nbsp;Several prominent names from the film and music industry also showed up at the protest. Actor Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and singer Vishal Dadlani were among those in attendance.&nbsp;Protests also erupted in the national capital earlier in the day.&nbsp;Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and several student organisations attempted to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar, but were detained by the Delhi Police.&nbsp;In Patna, India bloc allies, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the CPI(ML) also held a protest.&nbsp;The protests follow an investigative report which highlighted an unprecedented rupture inside the Election Commission, with two Election Commissioners recording multiple objections over key SIR-related decisions.&nbsp;Protesters argue that the controversial exercise has been designed to delete a large number of genuine voters from electoral rolls.&nbsp;The CJP has accused the Chief Election Commissioner of treason and is pressing for his resignation. The Mumbai protest is part of a wider CJP campaign against SIR. The party plans to take the agitation to Goa, Bengaluru and Kolkata.&nbsp;However, the Bharatiya Janata Party has hit out at the CJP for peddling a fake narrative.&nbsp;Speaking to the media, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the group's fake narrative has been exposed by the Election Commission.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India's poll body has announced a special drive to enrol voters left out of the electoral rolls in 20 states and Union Territories where the SIR exercise has been completed.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-five-dead-after-mine-collapse-in-turkey-as-authorities-launch-negligence-investigation-1790964669889">At least five dead after mine collapse in Turkey as authorities launch negligence investigation</a>&nbsp;Officials have been directed to compare pre-SIR rolls with post-SIR rolls, and identify those who have been left out. Of these 20 states and Union Territories, elections have already been completed in at least four states: West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.&nbsp;In Maharashtra, which is the largest state where the SIR exercise is still underway, officials have been directed not to delete any voter in haste.&nbsp;Earlier this week, the poll body rolled back a contentious change in Form 6 in states where the SIR exercise has been completed. Additionally, it has also instructed officials to set up special camps for adding voters to electoral rolls.

Protests erupted across Mumbai, Delhi and Patna over the SIR electoral roll revision as the CJP demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, while the Election Commission announced measures to enrol voters left out of the rolls.

The row over the revision of electoral rolls in India has taken a dramatic new turn, with protests unfolding across the country. Over two months after the Cockroach Janta Party led a protest for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the youth pressure group is back on the streets, this time in India's financial capital, Mumbai, gunning for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Thousands have gathered at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Quirky posters and satirical memes have flooded the protest site, even as protesters waive the tricolour and raise slogans against the Chief Election Commissioner. Heavy security has been deployed in and around Shivaji Park, with additional police personnel and barricades in place. Several prominent names from the film and music industry also showed up at the protest. Actor Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and singer Vishal Dadlani were among those in attendance. Protests also erupted in the national capital earlier in the day. Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and several student organisations attempted to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar, but were detained by the Delhi Police. In Patna, India bloc allies, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the CPI(ML) also held a protest. The protests follow an investigative report which highlighted an unprecedented rupture inside the Election Commission, with two Election Commissioners recording multiple objections over key SIR-related decisions. Protesters argue that the controversial exercise has been designed to delete a large number of genuine voters from electoral rolls. The CJP has accused the Chief Election Commissioner of treason and is pressing for his resignation. The Mumbai protest is part of a wider CJP campaign against SIR. The party plans to take the agitation to Goa, Bengaluru and Kolkata. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party has hit out at the CJP for peddling a fake narrative. Speaking to the media, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the group's fake narrative has been exposed by the Election Commission. Meanwhile, India's poll body has announced a special drive to enrol voters left out of the electoral rolls in 20 states and Union Territories where the SIR exercise has been completed. Also Read: At least five dead after mine collapse in Turkey as authorities launch negligence investigation Officials have been directed to compare pre-SIR rolls with post-SIR rolls, and identify those who have been left out. Of these 20 states and Union Territories, elections have already been completed in at least four states: West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar. In Maharashtra, which is the largest state where the SIR exercise is still underway, officials have been directed not to delete any voter in haste. Earlier this week, the poll body rolled back a contentious change in Form 6 in states where the SIR exercise has been completed. Additionally, it has also instructed officials to set up special camps for adding voters to electoral rolls.

Protests erupted across Mumbai, Delhi and Patna over the SIR electoral roll revision as the CJP demanded Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, while the Election Commission announced measures to enrol voters left out of the rolls.

SIR row: Opposition takes to streets against CEC in Delhi; CJP protest in Mumbai | RTP

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 29) agreed to hear a petition next week questioning the functioning of Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner and seeking to have the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls declared illegal. The petition followed days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had raised objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months over the decision of the SIR of electoral rolls. Both commissioners accused that some of the decisions related to SIR were taken without their knowledge or recommendation. However, the Election Commission stated that Sandhu and Joshi sent letters to the Cabinet Secretary related to an officer on deputation and had nothing to do with policy or IT division matters. Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, representing petitioner Rakesh Kumar Singh, asked a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to take up the matter on an early date.&nbsp;Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cec-has-become-a-puppet-kharge-demands-gyanesh-kumar-s-removal-lists-5-demands-1790681614607"> ‘CEC has become a puppet’: Kharge demands Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, lists 5 demands</a> “The purpose of having a multi-member Commission was that, and the statute says so, that it has to be a decision unanimously or by majority. Now, the way the Election Commission has functioned, there is serious doubt about whether the decision of the Election Commission also was there for this entire exercise of SIR,” Singh said. “Because if the Commission has not taken a unanimous decision, then this… And what Your Lordship also has decided (is) on the basis that it is a Commission’s decision. So it is a serious issue. I am only requesting an early date for listing,” he also said, adding that the CJI later directed it be listed next week.<h3>What Article 324(1) of the Constitution says</h3>The petition pointed to the reported differences between CEC Kumar and fellow Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi, along with the objections they had raised. It argued that Article 324(1) of the Constitution does not place the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the hands of an individual Chief Election Commissioner, but in a Commission as a whole. Singh noted that under Article 324(2), the Election Commission consists of the Chief Election Commissioner along with as many other Election Commissioners as the President may decide to appoint from time to time. He further pointed out that Article 324(3) states that once other Election Commissioners are appointed, the Chief Election Commissioner serves as the Commission's Chairman.

The petition followed days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had raised objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months over the decision of the SIR of electoral rolls.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 29) agreed to hear a petition next week questioning the functioning of Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner and seeking to have the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls declared illegal. The petition followed days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had raised objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months over the decision of the SIR of electoral rolls. Both commissioners accused that some of the decisions related to SIR were taken without their knowledge or recommendation. However, the Election Commission stated that Sandhu and Joshi sent letters to the Cabinet Secretary related to an officer on deputation and had nothing to do with policy or IT division matters. Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, representing petitioner Rakesh Kumar Singh, asked a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to take up the matter on an early date. Also read: ‘CEC has become a puppet’: Kharge demands Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, lists 5 demands “The purpose of having a multi-member Commission was that, and the statute says so, that it has to be a decision unanimously or by majority. Now, the way the Election Commission has functioned, there is serious doubt about whether the decision of the Election Commission also was there for this entire exercise of SIR,” Singh said. “Because if the Commission has not taken a unanimous decision, then this… And what Your Lordship also has decided (is) on the basis that it is a Commission’s decision. So it is a serious issue. I am only requesting an early date for listing,” he also said, adding that the CJI later directed it be listed next week. What Article 324(1) of the Constitution says The petition pointed to the reported differences between CEC Kumar and fellow Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi, along with the objections they had raised. It argued that Article 324(1) of the Constitution does not place the superintendence, direction and control of elections in the hands of an individual Chief Election Commissioner, but in a Commission as a whole. Singh noted that under Article 324(2), the Election Commission consists of the Chief Election Commissioner along with as many other Election Commissioners as the President may decide to appoint from time to time. He further pointed out that Article 324(3) states that once other Election Commissioners are appointed, the Chief Election Commissioner serves as the Commission's Chairman.

The petition followed days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had raised objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months over the decision of the SIR of electoral rolls.

Supreme Court agrees to hear petition challenging CEC Gyanesh Kumar's functioning, SIR exercise

Congress workers staged protests across several states on Friday, demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The nationwide demonstrations came amid the ongoing political dispute over the Election Commission (EC)'s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.&nbsp;Protests were reported in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh and Manipur, among other states. Congress workers marched towards EC offices and raised slogans against the CEC as the party intensified its opposition over the issue.&nbsp;In Dehradun, Uttarakhand Congress leaders and workers marched from the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters towards the Election Office at the state Secretariat. The protest was led by state in-charge Kumari Selja and Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal, with party workers seeking to gherao the office.<h3>Gaurav Gogoi detained during Assam protest</h3>In Assam, Congress president Gaurav Gogoi was detained by Assam Police during a protest demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. The detention came as the political row over the SIR of electoral rolls intensified.&nbsp;Speaking to ANI during the protest, Gogoi demanded Kumar's resignation and called for legal action against the Chief Election Commissioner over what he alleged were irregularities in the functioning of the EC.&nbsp;“Today, as people have come to know that Gyanesh Kumar Ji has committed a crime and committed an act of treason, he should resign today, and legal action should be taken against him,” Gogoi said.&nbsp;“Legal action should be taken against them, and they should be arrested. Along with Gyanesh Kumar, the ones sitting behind him—their masters, Prime Minister Modi Ji and Home Minister Amit Shah Ji—should remember today that the country will not forgive them,” he quoted as saying by ANI.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/how-does-anti-incumbency-disappear-rahul-gandhi-alleges-vote-chori-calls-for-cec-s-resignation-1790252100302">‘How does anti-incumbency disappear?’: Rahul Gandhi alleges ‘vote chori’, calls for CEC’s resignation</a><h3>Rahul Gandhi attacks ECI over SIR</h3>The protests followed Rahul Gandhi's criticism of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the Narendra Modi government on Thursday over the functioning of the Election Commission of India.&nbsp;Gandhi demanded Kumar's immediate resignation and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were the “main conspirators”. He also called for an investigation against them.&nbsp;Addressing a press conference on the ECI's functioning following media reports related to the SIR process, Gandhi said the issue was not limited to voting.&nbsp;“The thing to understand here is that if the vote has been destroyed, then our Constitution has been destroyed,” Gandhi said.&nbsp;The protests came amid an escalating political row over the SIR exercise following an investigative report by The Indian Express. The report said two sitting Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had formally recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding procedures, database changes and the ongoing revision of voter lists.&nbsp;The Election Commission has rejected the characterisation of these objections as evidence of institutional dissent. It said operational queries, internal feedback and administrative suggestions during the drafting process are part of the normal functioning of a multi-member constitutional body. The ECI has maintained that all final decisions, including those concerning SIR, were unanimous.&nbsp;The SIR exercise and ECI functioning are expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting on September 29.

Congress workers staged nationwide protests demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the functioning of the SIR and the Election Commission, while Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi was detained during a demonstration.

Congress workers staged protests across several states on Friday, demanding the resignation and removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The nationwide demonstrations came amid the ongoing political dispute over the Election Commission (EC)'s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protests were reported in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh and Manipur, among other states. Congress workers marched towards EC offices and raised slogans against the CEC as the party intensified its opposition over the issue. In Dehradun, Uttarakhand Congress leaders and workers marched from the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters towards the Election Office at the state Secretariat. The protest was led by state in-charge Kumari Selja and Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal, with party workers seeking to gherao the office. Gaurav Gogoi detained during Assam protest In Assam, Congress president Gaurav Gogoi was detained by Assam Police during a protest demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. The detention came as the political row over the SIR of electoral rolls intensified. Speaking to ANI during the protest, Gogoi demanded Kumar's resignation and called for legal action against the Chief Election Commissioner over what he alleged were irregularities in the functioning of the EC. “Today, as people have come to know that Gyanesh Kumar Ji has committed a crime and committed an act of treason, he should resign today, and legal action should be taken against him,” Gogoi said. “Legal action should be taken against them, and they should be arrested. Along with Gyanesh Kumar, the ones sitting behind him—their masters, Prime Minister Modi Ji and Home Minister Amit Shah Ji—should remember today that the country will not forgive them,” he quoted as saying by ANI. Also Read: ‘How does anti-incumbency disappear?’: Rahul Gandhi alleges ‘vote chori’, calls for CEC’s resignation Rahul Gandhi attacks ECI over SIR The protests followed Rahul Gandhi's criticism of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the Narendra Modi government on Thursday over the functioning of the Election Commission of India. Gandhi demanded Kumar's immediate resignation and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were the “main conspirators”. He also called for an investigation against them. Addressing a press conference on the ECI's functioning following media reports related to the SIR process, Gandhi said the issue was not limited to voting. “The thing to understand here is that if the vote has been destroyed, then our Constitution has been destroyed,” Gandhi said. The protests came amid an escalating political row over the SIR exercise following an investigative report by The Indian Express. The report said two sitting Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had formally recorded objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding procedures, database changes and the ongoing revision of voter lists. The Election Commission has rejected the characterisation of these objections as evidence of institutional dissent. It said operational queries, internal feedback and administrative suggestions during the drafting process are part of the normal functioning of a multi-member constitutional body. The ECI has maintained that all final decisions, including those concerning SIR, were unanimous. The SIR exercise and ECI functioning are expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting on September 29.

Congress workers staged nationwide protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over the SIR and Election Commission functioning, while Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi was detained during a demonstration.

SIR row: Congress stages nationwide protests, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, Gaurav Gogoi detained

In a rare development in Indian politics, opposition parties under the INDIA bloc have submitted notices in both Houses of the parliament demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The notice against CEC followed with the allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, mass exclusion of voters, and favouring the ruling BJP.&nbsp;The move marks the first attempt in the independent history of India to impeach a sitting CEC. But the question lies ahead: Can Gyanesh Kumar really be removed from the CEC post? The short answer is yes; however, it is not as simple because the action requires an extraordinarily rigorous, quasi-judicial process that is similar to the removal process of a Supreme Court judge.<h3>What does the Constitution actually say?</h3>To protect the independence of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Article 324(5) of the Constitution of India states that the CEC can only be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court. Additionally, the CEC’s service conditions cannot be altered to their disadvantage after appointment.&nbsp;&nbsp;This provision is reinforced by the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The law limits removal to two grounds: proved misbehaviour, such as corruption or abuse of power, or incapacity due to physical or mental inability.<h3>What is the removal process?</h3>The removal procedure of the CEC is based on Article 124(4) of the Constitution and governed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which is intentionally complex.<ul><li>First step says that a motion must first be supported by at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members and submitted to the Speaker or the Chairman. The presiding officer then reviews the motion and may either accept or reject it.</li><li>If accepted, then in the next step, a three-member independent committee is formed, consisting of a sitting Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist. This panel conducts a detailed inquiry, examines evidence and determines whether “proved misbehaviour or incapacity” exists.</li><li>If the committee confirms the charges, the motion is debated and must be approved by both Houses in the same session with a special majority—more than half the total membership and at least two-thirds of members present and voting.</li><li>After parliamentary approval, an address is sent to the President, who issues the official removal order.</li><li>This process can take several months and involves thorough legal scrutiny, making it significantly more rigorous than a standard no-confidence motion or parliamentary censure.</li></ul>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-congress-creating-panic-within-country-pm-modi-accuses-party-during-his-assam-visit-amid-west-asia-war-1773475122315">‘Congress creating panic within country’: PM Modi accuses party during his Assam visit amid West Asia war</a>

The removal procedure of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is based on Article 124(4) of the Constitution and governed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which is intentionally complex.

In a rare development in Indian politics, opposition parties under the INDIA bloc have submitted notices in both Houses of the parliament demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The notice against CEC followed with the allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, mass exclusion of voters, and favouring the ruling BJP. The move marks the first attempt in the independent history of India to impeach a sitting CEC. But the question lies ahead: Can Gyanesh Kumar really be removed from the CEC post? The short answer is yes; however, it is not as simple because the action requires an extraordinarily rigorous, quasi-judicial process that is similar to the removal process of a Supreme Court judge. What does the Constitution actually say? To protect the independence of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Article 324(5) of the Constitution of India states that the CEC can only be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court. Additionally, the CEC’s service conditions cannot be altered to their disadvantage after appointment. This provision is reinforced by the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The law limits removal to two grounds: proved misbehaviour, such as corruption or abuse of power, or incapacity due to physical or mental inability. What is the removal process? The removal procedure of the CEC is based on Article 124(4) of the Constitution and governed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which is intentionally complex. First step says that a motion must first be supported by at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members and submitted to the Speaker or the Chairman. The presiding officer then reviews the motion and may either accept or reject it. If accepted, then in the next step, a three-member independent committee is formed, consisting of a sitting Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist. This panel conducts a detailed inquiry, examines evidence and determines whether “proved misbehaviour or incapacity” exists. If the committee confirms the charges, the motion is debated and must be approved by both Houses in the same session with a special majority—more than half the total membership and at least two-thirds of members present and voting. After parliamentary approval, an address is sent to the President, who issues the official removal order. This process can take several months and involves thorough legal scrutiny, making it significantly more rigorous than a standard no-confidence motion or parliamentary censure. Also read: ‘Congress creating panic within country’: PM Modi accuses party during his Assam visit amid West Asia war

The removal procedure of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is based on Article 124(4) of the Constitution and governed by the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which is intentionally complex.

Can India's Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) really be removed? Here's what the Constitution says

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SIR row: Opposition takes to streets against CEC in Delhi; CJP protest in Mumbai | RTP

SC agrees to hear petition challenging Gyanesh Kumar's functioning, SIR exercise

SIR row: Congress protests nationwide, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation

Can India's CEC really be removed? Here's what the Constitution says