CEC Impeachment: Will the opposition be able to remove Gyanesh Kumar? Know the difficult process of removing the Chief Election Commissioner from the post

News India Live, Digital Desk: Only the Parliament has the power to remove the Chief Election Commissioner of India. According to Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the CEC can be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge. It is colloquially called ‘Impeachment’, although in the Constitution this word is used only for the President. Step-by-step process of removal (Constitutional Process) Step 1: Initiation of Motion. Lok Sabha: Signatures of at least 100 MPs are required. Rajya Sabha: Signatures of at least 50 MPs are required. On March 13, 2026, the opposition has secured 130 votes in the Lok Sabha and 130 in the Rajya Sabha. Notices signed by 63 MPs have been handed over to the secretaries. Step 2: Presiding Officer’s decision The Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha Chairman can accept or reject the motion. At present, the opposition has also prepared a no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla. Step 3: Formation of the inquiry committee. If the proposal is accepted, a 3-member committee is formed, which includes: A judge of the Supreme Court. A Chief Justice of a High Court. An eminent jurist. Step 4: Voting in the Parliament (Special Majority) If the committee is found guilty, then voting is done by a special majority in both the houses of the Parliament: 100% of the total membership of the House. Majority. Two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present and voting. Step 5: President’s approval. After passing from both the Houses, the file goes to the President and only after his signature, the CEC is removed from the post. Opposition’s Preparation and 7 major allegations (Opposition’s Preparation) TMC (Trinamool Congress) led INDIA alliance has made 7 main allegations against Gyanesh Kumar: Biased conduct: The Commission is working at the behest of the government. Alleged to have done. Rigging in voter list: Claims of deletion of names of lakhs of valid voters during ‘Special Intensive Revision’ in Bengal and Bihar. Discriminatory behaviour: Not taking action on complaints of opposition parties. Violation of constitutional decorum: Harming the impartiality of the Election Commission. Lack of data transparency: Delays or irregularities in sharing of electoral data. Deployment of micro-observers: Disloyalty of observers in selected areas Appointment. Questions on the appointment process: Protest against not including CJI in the selection committee. For the first time in history (A Historical Move) This is the first time in the parliamentary history of India that a notice has been formally given in Parliament for the removal of a serving Chief Election Commissioner. Before this T.N. There was political protest against Seshan (1991) and Naveen Chawla (2006), but the case did not reach formal notice.