The Supreme Court on Wednesday called for responses from the Central Government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding a plea by Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh. The petition challenges recent changes to the 1961 election rules, which notably include restrictions on public access to CCTV footage at polling stations.
During the proceedings, the bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, heard arguments from senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented Ramesh. The court issued notices to the involved parties and scheduled the hearing for the week starting March 17.
Singhvi criticized the amendments as being subtly implemented to block transparency, arguing that while the CCTV footage does not reveal individual votes, it is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. He pressed for a prompt response from the ECI and the government before the next hearing to avoid delays in the proceedings.
In his writ petition filed in December, Ramesh expressed concerns that these amendments could undermine the electoral process’s integrity. “The integrity of the electoral process is fast eroding. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will help restore it,” Ramesh stated, highlighting the critical need for judicial intervention.
The amendments in question were made based on recommendations from the ECI and executed by the Union Law Ministry. Specifically, Rule 93(2)(a) of the 1961 Conduct of Election Rules was revised to limit public access to certain types of electoral documents, including CCTV footage and webcasts, ostensibly to prevent their misuse.
Ramesh’s challenge underscores a broader debate about the balance between electoral security and transparency, with the petitioner arguing that the ECI should not unilaterally make such significant changes without public consultation.
