The Daily PulseGeneral
Former Officials and Activists Seek Removal of Chief Election Commissioner
Reported by Tanvi Pillai (Section Editor) · The Hindu - National ·
Confirmed by a second source: Hindustan Times - India
A group of former senior bureaucrats, civil society activists, and academics tried to serve Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with a public notice of impeachment on Monday, October 5, 2026. Heavy police barricading and security deployment blocked the 14-member delegation from reaching the Election Commission of India office in New Delhi, prompting them to email their chargesheet instead.
The Charges
The 14-member delegation included former Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, activist Anjali Bhardwaj, and various other former IAS officers, ambassadors, and public figures. Their chargesheet invokes Article 324(5) of the Constitution, which protects the CEC from removal except for proved misbehaviour or incapacity. The notice accuses Mr. Kumar of six specific instances of misconduct and a sustained disregard of legal and constitutional duties.
Key Allegations
The charges claim the CEC undermined the collective functioning of the ECI, made unauthorised changes to statutory Form 6, and centralised electoral-roll functions through the ECINET platform. According to Hindustan Times - India, the notice also cites reported objections by two Election Commissioners regarding decisions taken without proper knowledge, agendas, or minutes. The document further targets the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging it caused large-scale disenfranchisement by deleting 13.3 crore names and disproportionately affecting women, poor people, migrants, minorities, and elderly voters.
Context
Article 324(5) of the Constitution provides security of tenure to the Chief Election Commissioner to ensure the poll body remains independent of political pressure, laying down that they can only be removed in a manner similar to a Supreme Court judge. Electoral rolls serve as the official registry of eligible voters for elections in India, and any large-scale revision process directly impacts citizens' fundamental right to vote.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
A group of retired senior civil servants, academics, and activists attempted to submit a formal chargesheet and notice of impeachment against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of constitutional misconduct regarding electoral roll revisions and internal poll panel administration.
Why It Matters
The Chief Election Commissioner holds a vital constitutional office meant to guarantee free and fair elections in India. Public accusations of procedural violations and mass voter disenfranchisement from senior former bureaucrats directly challenge the institutional credibility and perceived neutrality of the nation's election watchdog.
What Happens Next
While an impeachment notice by private citizens has no direct legal power to remove a constitutional authority—as removal requires a formal parliamentary process initiated by lawmakers—the matter has also drawn attention in the Supreme Court, where petitions concerning the CEC's powers and functioning are being heard.
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