Opposition parties push for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's ouster over alleged electoral roll manipulation

Two ECs stated that Form 6 — which new voters must fill out to register — was altered to ask if the applicant or their parents/grandparents “exist” on the electoral roll of the last SIR; Opposition parties are asking the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the report

Source

The Hindu — National →

Quick Revision

Prelims-testable facts

01The Election Commission of India is a constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
02The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the President of India for a term of six years, or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
03The Election Commission of India is responsible for conducting free and fair elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and the Vice-President of India.
04Form 6 is a crucial document used for voter registration, and any alteration to its content can have significant implications on the electoral process.
05The Supreme Court of India has the power to take suo motu cognisance of any matter related to the election process, including complaints of electoral malpractices.
06The Election Commission of India has the authority to frame its own rules and regulations for the conduct of elections, subject to the approval of the President of India.

Trap alerts

Most people think the Election Commission of India is a statutory body, but actually it is a constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
Most people think the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is appointed by the Parliament, but actually they are appointed by the President of India for a term of six years, or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.

Prelims Practice MCQs

Single facteasy

What change was made to Form 6 by the Election Commission?

A.Whether the applicant or their parents/grandparents 'exist' on the electoral roll of the last 7 years
B.Whether the applicant or their parents/grandparents 'reside' on the electoral roll of the last 7 years
C.Whether the applicant or their parents/grandparents 'are registered' on the electoral roll of the last 7 years
D.Whether the applicant or their parents/grandparents 'have voted' on the electoral roll of the last 7 years

The Election Commission altered Form 6 to ask if the applicant or their parents/grandparents 'exist' on the electoral roll of the last 7 years. This change was made to ensure the accuracy of voter data.

Multiple statementsmedium

Consider the following statements regarding Election Commission and Supreme Court: 1. The Election Commission is headed by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. 2. The Supreme Court has suo motu cognisance of reports. 3. The Opposition parties are asking the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the report of the Election Commission altering Form 6. How many of the above statements are correct?

A.Only one
B.Only two
C.All three
None

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