Kumar Bahukhandi
File photo of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. 73 Rajya Sabha MPs from 11 Opposition parties had submitted a fresh notice seeking motion for removal of Kumar. – Photo Credit-channel24india.com
The fresh notice had levelled nine charges against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
New Delhi: The Opposition parties on Friday April 24, 2026 submitted a fresh notice seeking motion for removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This is the second time the Opposition members have moved such a notice.
The notice was signed by 73 Rajya Sabha members from 11 Opposition parties, including Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and TMC’s Sagarika Ghosh.
The fresh notice has levelled nine charges against Kumar.
The previous notice, signed by 63 Rajya Sabha members and 130 Lok Sabha members, had levelled seven charges against Gyanesh Kumar.
This time the Opposition has not taken a call on whether to file the notice in the Lok Sabha.
Article 324(5) of the Constitution states: “Provided that the Chief Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court and the conditions of service of the Chief Election Commissioner shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.”
Under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, if notices for such a motion are submitted in both Houses on the same day, no inquiry committee may be constituted unless the motion is admitted in both Houses. Once admitted, a committee must be constituted jointly by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
The rules require at least 50 MPs to sign the notice if it is moved in the Rajya Sabha and 100 if moved in the Lok Sabha.
