NEW DELHI: Congress has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, said senior leader and AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday.
“A Writ has just been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961,” Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
The Rajya Sabha MP blamed the Election Commission, constitutional body responsible for conducting free and fair elections, for unilaterally implementing changes without public consultation. “The Election Commission, a Constitutional body, charged with the conduct of free and fair elections cannot be allowed to unilaterally, and without public consultation, amend such a vital law in such a brazen manner,” he asserted.
Adding that the “integrity of the electoral process is fast eroding”, Ramesh said, “Hopefully the Supreme Court will help restore it,” adding that “integrity of the electoral process is fast eroding”.
The controversy arose after Centre amended Rule 93 of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to limit public access to certain electronic documents with the aim of preventing the misuse of electronic election records. This includes CCTV camera and webcasting footage, as well as video recordings of candidates, during the election process. The Union law ministry’s decision followed a recommendation from the Election Commission.