Supreme Court Seeks ECI and Centre Replies on Challenge to CEC's Alleged Unilateral SIR Decisions

The Supreme Court declined to suspend Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar without hearing the respondents and instead issued notice on a petition alleging that several Special Intensive Revision decisions were taken unilaterally.

Background and legal issue

The Bench said it expected the Election Commission to follow the statutory decision-making framework and indicated that any established violation could be undone The petitioners relied on provisions requiring decisions to be unanimous where possible and otherwise by majority These remain allegations, not judicial findings

Reasoning and significance

The immediate consequence is that the CEC continues in office while the Union, Election Commission and concerned officials must respond to the challenge.

The legal effect is confined to the operative ruling or procedural development. Allegations and party submissions are not treated as established facts unless the court expressly decided them.