Presiding officers bypassed Parliament in rejecting CEC removal notice: INDIA

9 APRIL 2026

Criticising the decision of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan to reject the notice submitted by 193 Opposition MPs seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, INDIA bloc leaders said “collective parliamentary wisdom” had been bypassed
They alleged that the presiding officers held a “mini-trial” of their own without revealing whom they had consulted before arriving at the decision
Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the presiding officers were only required to form a “prima facie” view. “This means that they need to establish whether the notice is in order,” he said.
He explained that once such a notice is submitted, it has to be referred to an inquiry committee to probe the charges levelled. The committee then presents a report to Parliament, which takes the final call.
Mr. Singhvi said that if the Opposition’s notice is not allowed to go beyond the presiding officer’s table, there can never be an impeachment, and no one can be held accountable. “Instead of taking a prima facie view, the Chair has held a mini-trial. This is completely wrong,” he added.