The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Election Commission in the matter of the Election Commission's ban on public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera footage, webcast footage, and video recordings of candidates. The court has issued a notice to the Central Government and the Election Commission on the petition of Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and sought a response.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, arguing on behalf of Jairam before a bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar, said that the Election Conduct Rules 1961 have been cleverly amended to ban CCTV footage from public access saying that it can reveal the identity of the voter.
What did Singhvi say in the Supreme Court?
After the notice was issued, Singhvi told the bench that the Center and the Election Commission should be directed to file a reply by the next date, otherwise on the next date they will say that the reply will be filed. However, the CJI said that he would file the reply.
The Centre has banned public inspection of CCTV footage
The Central Government, on the recommendation of the Election Commission, amended the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 in December last year and banned public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera footage, webcast footage, and video recordings of candidates to prevent their misuse.
The Law Ministry has amended this rule.
Based on the recommendation of the Election Commission, the Union Law Ministry has amended Rule 93 (2) (a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 to ban papers or documents kept for public inspection.
What does the rule say?
Rule 93 says that all documents related to the election will be kept for public inspection but now it has been changed. However, even after the amendment in the rules, these documents will be available to the candidates.
What did Jairam Ramesh write in the post on 'X'?
Jairam Ramesh, while informing about challenging the amendments by filing a petition in the Supreme Court, had recently written in a post on 'X' that the Election Commission is a constitutional institution that has the responsibility of conducting free and fair elections, it cannot be allowed to unilaterally amend such an important law without public consultation.
The impact of the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran in West Asia will not be limited
Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain has questioned the legitimacy of the concept of properti
The excitement of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is being seen among cricket lovers. In the tourna
The young man who eloped with his would-be mother-in-law boarded a train from Kasganj. He is seen
Punjab Kings team has reached the final of IPL 2025. It defeated Mumbai Indians by five wickets i
Boney Kapoor: Boney Kapoor met CM Yogi, the film producer's company will build a 'Film City'
Film producer Boney Kapoor has met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Boney Kapoor pos
After Indian Air Force Group Captain and Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla went on a space journey, PM
Punjabi actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh is facing criticism over his upcoming Punjabi film 'Sardar Ji
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has slammed the Pakistani a
The body of social media influencer Kamal Kaur alias Kanchan Kumari was recovered from a car park