EC Affidavit in SC: Rebuts Claims Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

In a fresh submission to the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India has denied allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The affidavit states that the three Special Intensive Revision orders issued in June 2025, October 2025 and May 2026 were adopted unanimously.

The filing was made in reply to petitions questioning the functioning of the Chief Election Commissioner and the commission's conduct of the SIR across various states. The counter-affidavit was approved unanimously by the Chief Election Commissioner and both Election Commissioners.

Thirteen opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, have filed the petitions. The Election Commission, the Chief Election Commissioner and both Election Commissioners jointly submitted the affidavit in response.

The commission argued that the petition is based solely on one news report. It said the report's claim that CEC Gyanesh Kumar took unilateral decisions is wrong.

The affidavit offered a description of how files move internally. Under the file system, a file goes first to one Election Commissioner, then to the second, and finally to the Chief Election Commissioner. Notes and questions, the commission said, are not decisions.

On the events of July, the affidavit said the July 28 order was issued by an Additional Secretary. Both Election Commissioners wrote to the Cabinet Secretary on the following day. After a joint direction from both Commissioners on July 30, the order was not implemented.

The commission also stated that Form 6 has not been changed and can only be altered by the government. It said the SIR declaration is separate from Form 6. From October 21, the online form will be divided into two parts, Form 6 and the declaration.