Shimla, October 3: Shimla Rural District Congress Committee president Hari krishan Himral on Friday criticised the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, alleging that it provides excessive protection to the Election Commission officials from civil and criminal proceedings for acts performed in the discharge of their official duties.
Himral said the legislation removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee and replaced him with a Cabinet Minister, thereby altering the arrangement laid down by the Supreme Court in 2023. He said the CEC can now be removed from office only through a process of impeachment by Parliament, similar to the procedure applicable to Supreme Court judges.
He pointed out that petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court by NGOs, including Lok Prahari, challenging Section 16 of the Act on the grounds that it provides unlimited protection to election officials.
Addressing mediapersons here, Himral alleged that the law shields officials from accountability, while supporters of the legislation maintain that it protects the independent functioning of the Election Commission.
Himral alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was functioning in an authoritarian manner. He claimed that more than 13 crore voters had been deprived of their constitutional rights under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), allegedly by disregarding the recommendations of two Election Commissioners.
He said the Congress was running a nationwide “Save Democracy, Save the Country” campaign against what it termed serious violations by the Chief Election Commissioner.
Himral demanded the removal of the CEC from office and legal action against him. He said the INDIA bloc, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, stood with the people against what he described as the “dictatorial functioning” of the Election Commission.
He further alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also responsible for the alleged “theft of the people’s mandate” and demanded his resignation.
