Opposition to move Parliament notice seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Report

India’s opposition parties have gathered the required signatures (180) to submit a notice in Parliament seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of “partisan and discriminatory conduct in office”., according to a report.

The report by PTI cited sources, saying that the notice is expected to be filed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in the next couple of days.

A senior Member of Parliament aware of the development reportedly said the signature collection process has been completed and the notices are likely to be submitted on Thursday.

Another senior opposition leader indicated that the move could be initiated either on Thursday or Friday in both Houses of Parliament, the report added.

The impeachment motion is reportedly taken by the Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha as party leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee is on protest from March 6 on the deletion of voters’ names after the Special Intensive Revision process was completed in the state.

Before this, the issue was also raised at the INDIA bloc meeting chaired by Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikaarjun Kharge at his office in Parliament on Tuesday.

This development comes at a time when opposition parties’ are discussing two motions. First one is the motion against Justice Yashwant Verma and second one against Speaker Om Birla, which parliament discussed today.

How can CEC be removed ? 

The removal of a CEC comes under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, which mandates a process similar to that of a Supreme Court judge. A notice seeking to impeach a CEC would require signatures of 100 MPs in Lok Sabha and 50 in Rajya Sabha and spell out the charges.

A three-member committee of a Supreme Court judge, High Court Chief Justice, and a distinguished judge will be appointed to inquire into the allegations, if the notice is accepted by the Chair and once it indicts the CEC, a vote is held in both houses requiring the two third majority of both house those present and voting to pass. Then the President issues the order for removal.