New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sparked controversy with recent amendments to electoral rules, specifically excluding CCTV footage from poll booths from the category of “documents” accessible to candidates and the public.
This decision, while framed as a measure to protect voter privacy and safety, has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party, who accuse the ECI and the Modi government of undermining electoral transparency.
The amendment alters Section 93(2) of the Conduct of Election Rules, which previously stated that “all other papers relating to the election shall be open to public inspection” with court permission. The new amendment clarifies that “papers” only includes documents specifically listed in the rules, effectively excluding CCTV footage.
The changes were triggered by a Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing the ECI to provide certain election-related documents, including CCTV footage, to advocate Mehmood Pracha, who had filed a petition seeking transparency in the Haryana Assembly elections.
The Congress swiftly condemned the amendment, with spokesperson Jairam Ramesh vowing to challenge it in court. Ramesh asserted that the move represents a significant erosion of electoral integrity. “If there was ever a vindication of our assertions regarding eroding integrity of the electoral process managed by EC in recent times, this is it.”
However, the ECI defended its actions, citing concerns about voter safety and the potential for misuse of CCTV footage. A senior ECI official highlighted the risks, particularly in sensitive areas like Jammu and Kashmir and Naxal-affected regions, where the release of such footage could compromise voter safety and security.
The ECI maintained that all other election-related documents remain accessible to the public and that candidates retain access to all relevant records, including those pertaining to their respective constituencies. They further argued that the previous rule did not explicitly cover electronic records like CCTV footage, leading to this clarification to prevent potential misuse and manipulation, especially through the application of AI technologies. “Sharing of CCTV footage may have serious repercussions, specially in sensitive areas like J&K, Naxal-affected regions etc where secrecy is important and the lives of voters are at risk for participating in the democratic process,” a senior EC official was quoted as saying The Times of India.
