Supreme Court Grants EC 3 Weeks to Respond to Jairam Ramesh’s Plea on Election Rules

The Supreme Court of India has granted the Election Commission (EC) three weeks to respond to a plea filed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and others, challenging recent amendments to the 1961 Conduct of Election Rules. The amendments, introduced by the Union Law Ministry in December 2024, restrict public access to certain election-related documents, including CCTV footage and webcasting recordings.

The petitioners, including activist Anjali Bhardwaj, argue that the amendments violate Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution by curtailing transparency and limiting public scrutiny of election records. They claim the changes bring opaqueness to the electoral process and infringe upon the fundamental right to information.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar issued a notice to the Centre and the EC in January, seeking their response. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the EC, requested additional time to file the reply, which the court granted. The case is now scheduled for hearing in the July 21 week.

The petitioners have also raised concerns about the amendments barring access to CCTV footage, claiming it would reveal the identity of voters. However, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Jairam Ramesh, clarified that voting choices are never revealed through such footage and urged the court to ensure transparency in the electoral process.

The amendments have sparked widespread debate, with critics accusing the government of undermining the integrity of elections. Jairam Ramesh expressed hope that the Supreme Court would help restore trust in the electoral system, which he believes is “fast eroding.”