Lawyers from across Kerala on Tuesday staged a symbolic impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, raising concerns over the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The demonstration was organised by the Indian Association of Lawyers (IAL) at the Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA) Golden Jubilee Chamber Complex. Representatives from 88 court centres across the State were invited to participate in the gathering.
The lawyers assembled at around 4:30 pm, carrying copies of the Constitution and placards demanding Kumar’s removal. They recited the Preamble to the Constitution before adopting a resolution declaring that the Chief Election Commissioner had been symbolically impeached.
The resolution expressed concern that the public’s confidence in the neutrality of the Election Commission was being undermined, with potential consequences for the country’s democratic system.
The participants also urged the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to consider a motion seeking Kumar’s removal under Article 324(5), read with Article 124(4) of the Constitution and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. They called for the allegations against him to be examined impartially in accordance with law.
The protest comes amid demonstrations in different parts of the country seeking Kumar’s removal over alleged lapses in the revision of electoral rolls.
Following the demonstration, the IAL convened a constitutional convention on the theme “Independence of Election Commission of India – Compromised?” at the High Court complex.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph delivered the inaugural address, while former Kerala High Court judge Justice K. Balakrishnan Nair delivered the keynote address.
The speakers raised concerns about alleged deprivation of voting rights and what they described as the increasing concentration of power within the Election Commission.
Author K.R. Meera, Senior Advocate K. Gopalakrishna Kurup and Anil S. Raj of the Indian Lawyers Congress also addressed the gathering and called for the Chief Election Commissioner’s removal.
The speakers alleged that Kumar had exceeded his authority, disregarded the views of the other two Election Commissioners and failed to adequately safeguard citizens’ voting rights during the SIR exercise.
The symbolic resolution adopted by the lawyers does not itself constitute a constitutional removal process. Under Article 324(5), the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only through the procedure and on the grounds applicable to the removal of a Supreme Court judge.
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