The impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been rejected by both Houses of Parliament, bringing an end to the Opposition’s attempt to seek his removal. The motion was dismissed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan after reviewing the submissions.
The Opposition had alleged bias in electoral processes and submitted notices backed by over 130 Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and 63 in the Rajya Sabha. However, the presiding officers declined to admit the motion, effectively halting the impeachment process at the initial stage.
Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner follows a stringent process similar to that of a Supreme Court judge. It requires proof of “misbehaviour” or “incapacity” and must be supported by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament. Since the motion was not admitted, no further inquiry or voting took place.
The legal framework governing such removal is outlined in the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, which reinforces constitutional safeguards to ensure the independence of the Election Commission.
The rejection of the motion highlights the high threshold required for removing constitutional authorities in India, ensuring institutional stability while maintaining accountability through a rigorous legal process.
