SC issues notice to EC, Centre on plea challenging decisions taken by CEC-led poll panel

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 5, 2026: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices on a plea challenging the functioning of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The petition alleged that CEC Gyanesh Kumar took several decisions without the approval of the other two Election Commissioners.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued the notices after hearing submissions from senior advocate Vikas Singh.

The notices were issued to the Union of India, the Election Commission of India, CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg, IAS, and Director General (IT) Seema Khanna, Live Law reported.

The PIL, filed by Patna resident Rakesh Kumar Singh, sought a determination on whether the CEC had been exercising powers that legally belong to the Election Commission as a collective body. The petitioner urged the court to take appropriate action if such a violation was established.

Singh also sought an interim order suspending the CEC. The court, however, declined to pass such an order, observing that it could affect the functioning of the Election Commission.

During the hearing, the court said that if any decision taken by the Election Commission is found to be contrary to law, it would annul the decision.

The development comes days after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections at least 14 times over the past 10 months to decisions and orders related to the SIR process. According to the report, they had objected to certain decisions being issued without their knowledge or recommendation.