Kerala assembly debates overhaul of election commissioner selection panel

The Kerala Assembly bulletin for Sunday listed a motion that will be presented on Monday by Chief Minister V.D. Satish. The resolution seeks three major reforms: the dismissal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the correction of voter‑list exclusions, and a revamp of the committee that appoints election commissioners.

The draft raises serious concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, alleging that it was plagued by irregularities that have eroded confidence in the Election Commission. It points out that millions of eligible voters – especially those from disadvantaged sections, minorities, migrant workers and the youth – were removed from the electoral roll without clear guidelines or prior warning.

According to the proposal, such deletions contravene democratic fundamentals and the constitutional guarantee of the adult franchise. It calls for an exhaustive verification of the roll, rectification of every mistake, and the reinstatement of voting rights for all affected citizens.

The document also questions the software employed for roll preparation, contending that it limits the statutory authority of registration officers under the Representation of People Act, 1950 and the Electoral Registration Rules, 1960. It alleges that unauthorized changes were made to Form‑6, contrary to established rules, and cites media reports that the majority of commission members opposed these actions.

A core demand is to insulate the Election Commission from political pressure and ensure greater transparency. To that end, the motion proposes a new selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. It criticises a central law that removed the Chief Justice from the committee and gave the executive a decisive majority, which the drafters say weakens the commission’s independence.

The resolution concludes with an appeal to the Election Commission and the central government to act on these three demands, safeguarding democratic values and constitutional integrity.