Supreme Court to examine petition questioning unanimity of Election Commission decisions

The Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for next week on a petition that questions whether the Election Commission of India’s decisions under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar are being made unanimously, as required by law. Senior advocate Vikas Singh told a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana that the commission’s internal dissent raises serious doubts about compliance with the statutory framework.

The petition cites multiple objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over the last ten months, covering voter-addition, deletion, restoration and registration-process reforms. In its first public meeting since the controversy, the commission defended the unanimity of its recent orders, cited a Supreme Court endorsement of a 2025 decision, and announced a review of its backend software and future digital initiatives.

The commission also clarified that a letter to cabinet secretary TV Somanathan pertained to an officer’s deputation, not policy matters. The case highlights ongoing tensions within India’s electoral administration and could shape how future election-related decisions are made.