{
  "id": 16628990,
  "title": "CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge, ECI tells top court",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/cec-can-be-removed-only-like-a-supreme-court-judge-eci-tells-top-court",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T16:53:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cec-can-be-removed-only-like-a-supreme-court-judge-eci-tells-top-court/article71628290.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a legal affidavit, the Election Commission of India (ECI) stated that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) can only be removed from their position through a process similar to that of a Supreme Court judge, according to the top court. The nearly 250-page document, filed in the Supreme Court on October 26, 2026, also noted that any attempt to restrain the CEC's functioning is contrary to the law.\n\nThe affidavit mentioned that a media report on alleged inner frictions and unilateral or authoritarian behavior of the CEC was not considered as evidence in court. Moreover, it claimed that petitions based on such media reports are not maintainable in court.\n\nThe ECI, along with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the two Election Commissioners - Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi - filed the affidavit. The document highlighted that decisions are vetted at various levels before implementation, with all approvals noted in the official files. The affidavit stated that the multi-member Commission follows the majority rule when there are differences of opinion.",
  "summary": "A common affidavit filed for the EC, CEC Kumar and Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi say that any attempt to restrain the CEC’s functioning is contrary to the 2023 Act; asserts that Form 6 was not amended; West Bengal CEO’s officers filed appeals against inclusions",
  "key_points": [
    "Chief Election Commissioner can only be removed like a Supreme Court judge",
    "Media report on CEC's behavior not considered as evidence",
    "Decisions vetted at various levels before implementation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "‘Nobody will be prosecuted’: Supreme Court over deleted voters filing Form 6",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/nobody-will-be-prosecuted-supreme-court-over-deleted-voters-filing",
        "published": "2026-10-26T10:02:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Supreme Court notice to ECI on plea against Maharashtra SIR deletions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/supreme-court-notice-to-eci-on-plea-against-maharashtra-sir-deletions",
        "published": "2026-10-26T10:16:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Ponevezh Yeshiva dispute: Supreme Court delays eviction until August",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/ponevezh-yeshiva-dispute-supreme-court-delays-eviction-until-august",
        "published": "2026-10-26T18:05:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}