Supreme Court agrees to list next week plea to suspend CEC Gyanesh Kumar from office
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a petition seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The petitioner argues that the CEC has exercised unilateral authority, violating the requirement for unanimous decision-making within the Election Commission.
Why it matters
The case addresses the constitutional balance of power within India's electoral body and the independence of its commissioners.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) agreed to list and hear early a petition challenging allegations regarding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's unilateral exercise of authority in the name of the Election Commission of India (ECI), and seeking his suspension from office.
Appearing before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, senior advocate Vikas Singh and advocate Mudit Gupta, representing petitioner Rakesh Kumar Singh, made an oral mentioning for early hearing of the plea which urged the court to direct that Mr. Kumar should not exercise the functions of Chief Election Commissioner, pending final hearing of this petition.
The CJI agreed to list the petition next week.
The petition said the two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, must conduct the business of the Election Commission of India (ECI) through unanimous decisions.
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2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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