Citizens' group urges President to restore Election Commission’s independence

By A Representative

In a strongly worded public appeal, Citizens for Democracy, a prominent civil society organisation, has urged the President of India to use her constitutional powers to safeguard the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and restore its integrity. The appeal expresses deep concern over what it describes as the steady erosion of the ECI’s autonomy since 2014, alleging that the constitutional body has effectively become a department of the ruling government.

The appeal, signed by noted academics Anand Kumar and Shashi Shekhar Prasad Singh, highlights the controversial amendment to the process of appointing Election Commissioners. The Supreme Court had earlier recommended a neutral selection panel including the Chief Justice of India, but the government removed this clause, replacing the CJI with a minister nominated by the Prime Minister, thereby giving the ruling party a majority in the committee. According to the signatories, this change severely compromises the Commission's neutrality.

Citizens for Democracy also criticises the conduct of the civil servants appointed as Election Commissioners, arguing that many have failed in their constitutional duty by aligning with the political interests of the incumbent regime. The group warns that this politicisation of bureaucracy may threaten the foundational democratic processes of the nation.

The appeal lists a series of incidents in which the Commission allegedly failed to act against high-profile leaders of the ruling party, including the Prime Minister, for communal and divisive rhetoric during election campaigns. It further claims that the ECI selectively targets opposition parties for minor infractions while ignoring major violations by the ruling party.

The organisation also raised concerns over the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar, which is currently under scrutiny by the Supreme Court. It argued that the exercise appears to be designed to curtail the voting rights of the poor, amounting to an indirect attack on universal adult franchise—one of the pillars of Indian democracy.

Citing the need for sweeping electoral reforms, the group called for revamping not only the appointment process but also restoring transparency in voter lists, revisiting the electronic voting system, addressing black money in elections, and ensuring internal democracy within political parties. However, it asserted that none of these reforms would have any real impact unless the ECI’s independence is first re-established.

The appeal concludes with an emotional request to President Droupadi Murmu, invoking her personal journey from humble beginnings to the highest office in the country. It calls upon her to act independently under Article 53 of the Constitution to defend democracy, stating that the President’s moral responsibility transcends political expediency and calls for action in times of constitutional crisis.

Comments

What mainstream economists won’t tell you about Chinese modernisation

By Shiran Illanperuma China’s modernisation has been one of the most remarkable processes of the 21st century and one that has sparked endless academic debate. Meng Jie (孟捷), a distinguished professor from the School of Marxism at Fudan University in Shanghai, has spent the better part of his career unpacking this process to better understand what has taken place.

10,000 students deprived of classes as Ahmedabad school remains shut: MCC writes to Gujarat CM

By A Representative The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, urging him to immediately reopen the Seventh Day Adventist School in Maninagar, Ahmedabad, where classes have been suspended for nearly two weeks. The MCC claims that the suspension, following a violent incident, violates the constitutional right to education of thousands of children.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

On Teachers’ Day, remembering Mother Teresa as the teacher of compassion

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ It is Teachers’ Day once again! Significantly, the day also marks the Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta (still lovingly called Mother Teresa). In 2012, the United Nations, as a fitting tribute to her, declared this day the International Day of Charity. A day pregnant with meaning—one that we must celebrate as meaningfully as possible.

Gujarat minority rights group seeks suspension of Botad police officials for brutal assault on minor

By A Representative A human rights group, the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat, has written to the Director General of Police (DGP), Gandhinagar, demanding the immediate suspension and criminal action against police personnel of Botad police station for allegedly brutally assaulting a minor boy from the Muslim community.

Revisiting Periyar: Dialogues on caste, socialism and Dravidian identity

By Prof. K. S. Chalam* S. V. Rajadurai and Vidya Bhushan Rawat’s joint effort in bringing out a book on the most original iconoclast of South Asia, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, titled Periyar: Caste, Nation and Socialism, published by People’s Literature Publication, Mumbai, is now available on Amazon and Flipkart . This volume presents an innovative method of documenting the pioneering contributions of a leader like Periyar, and it reflects the scholarship of Rajadurai, who has played a pivotal role in popularizing Periyar in English.

1857 War of Independence... when Hindu-Muslim separatism, hatred wasn't an issue

"The Sepoy Revolt at Meerut", Illustrated London News, 1857 By Shamsul Islam* Large sections of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs unitedly challenged the greatest imperialist power, Britain, during India’s First War of Independence which began on May 10, 1857; the day being Sunday. This extraordinary unity, naturally, unnerved the firangees and made them realize that if their rule was to continue in India, it could happen only when Hindus and Muslims, the largest two religious communities were divided on communal lines.

Bhojpuri cinema’s crisis: When popularity becomes an excuse for vulgarity

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Bhojpuri cinema is expanding rapidly. Songs from new films are eagerly awaited, and the industry is hailed for its booming business. Yet, big money and mass popularity do not automatically translate into quality cinema or meaningful content. The market has compelled us to celebrate numbers, even when what is being produced is deeply troubling.

Result of climate change, excessive human interference, can Himachal be saved from natural disasters?

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur* These days, almost all districts of Himachal Pradesh are severely affected by natural disasters such as heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, landslides, land subsidence, mudslides, and flash floods. Due to frequent landslides and falling debris, major highways, including the Chandigarh–Manali and Manali–Leh routes, as well as several other roads, have been closed to traffic. Although this devastation is triggered by natural events such as heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, and flash floods, it is not entirely a natural phenomenon. The destruction in Himachal Pradesh is largely the result of climate change and excessive human interference with the state’s fragile environment.

Search This Blog