O.P. Rawat Explains Election Commission Majority Vote Process
Former CEC O.P. Rawat explained how decisions are taken within the Election Commission and commented on the ongoing West Bengal voter-roll controversy.
Former Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat has spoken about the Election Commission of India’s decision-making process amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the poll panel and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Rawat said decisions within the three-member Election Commission are taken when all three commissioners are present and can be reached either unanimously or through a majority vote. The Supreme Court has also previously held that majority decision-making in a multi-member Election Commission is legally permissible.
Addressing the West Bengal voter-roll controversy, Rawat highlighted the cases in which voters whose names were removed during the revision process successfully appealed. According to figures reported from the Election Commission’s submissions, about 93 per cent of decided appeals resulted in voters being restored to the electoral rolls.
Rawat described denial of voting rights through faulty procedures as a serious democratic concern and said the process for identifying illegal immigrants falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs rather than being solely an Election Commission function.
He also expressed concern about the scrutiny facing the poll panel and called for the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners to work together, address concerns transparently and take steps to strengthen public confidence.
The comments come as the Election Commission faces continued scrutiny over its handling of electoral-roll revisions in West Bengal, with a large number of appeals still pending before appellate tribunals.
