New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 15) sought responses from the Centra and Election Commission of India (ECI) on a plea challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which barred any public access to CCTV footage.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar sought the responses of the Centre and the ECI while hearing a plea filed by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh.
Congress leader filed plea in the apex court against amendments in December last year
Ramesh, who filed a plea before the top court against the amendments to Conduct of Election Rules in December last year, has said that ECI is a constitutional body, which is charged with the conduct of free and fair elections, and it couldn’t be allowed to unilaterally, and without public consultation, amend such a vital law in such a brazen manner.
What did Ramesh submit before the top court?
Senior counsels Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the Congress leader.
Singhvi, who submitted that amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 was “very cleverly” done, urged the bench to direct the Centre and the ECI to file their responses to Ramesh’s plea. He also urged the bench to set a deadline for the respondents to file their replies.
The bench, after issuing the notice, posted the matter for further hearing in week commencing March 17.
The Union Law Ministry, in consultation with the ECI, amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents to prevent the misuse of those documents.
What did Ramesh say earlier on social media platform X?
“A Writ has just been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The Election Commission, a Constitutional body, charged with the conduct of free and fair elections cannot be allowed to unilaterally, and without public consultation, amend such a vital law in such a brazen manner,” Ramesh, earlier wrote on social media platform X.
“This is especially true when that amendment does away with public access to essential information that makes the electoral process more transparent and accountable. The integrity of the electoral process is fast eroding. Hopefully the Supreme Court will help restore it,” the Congress leader added.
