SC agrees to early listing of plea challenging ECI decision-making process

The ECI has maintained that ECINet is decentralised and that statutory responsibilities remain with designated election officials.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to an early listing of a plea challenging the manner in which the Election Commission of India (ECI) is functioning, with allegations that powers vested in the multi-member constitutional body are being exercised without adhering to the legally mandated collective decision-making process.Senior advocate Vikas Singh mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, arguing that the statutory framework requires decisions of the multi-member Commission to be taken unanimously or by majority.

The plea comes amid controversy over ECINet, the ECI’s integrated digital platform for electoral processes. The Indian Express reported concerns raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over the centralisation of electoral-roll databases and access available to state-level officials.The ECI has maintained that ECINet is decentralised and that statutory responsibilities remain with designated election officials.On September 26, the poll panel also formed a committee, headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent IIT or IIIT expert, to review ECINet’s compliance with laws and rules.