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

Academics urge Azim Premji University to drop FIR against Student Reading Circle

By A Representative A group of academics and civil society members has issued an open letter to the leadership of Azim Premji University expressing concern over the filing of a police complaint that led to an FIR against a student-run reading circle following a recent incident of violence on campus. The signatories state that they hold the university in high regard for its commitment to constitutional values, critical inquiry and ethical public engagement, and argue that it is precisely because of this reputation that the present development is troubling.

Was Netaji forced to alter face, die in obscurity in USSR in 1975? Was he so meek?

By Rajiv Shah This should sound almost hilarious. Not only did Subhas Chandra Bose not die in a plane crash in Taipei, nor was he the mysterious Gumnami Baba who reportedly passed away on 16 September 1985 in Ayodhya, but we are now told that he actually died in 1975—date unknown—“in oblivion” somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Which city? Moscow? No one seems to know.

UAPA action against Telangana activist: Criminalising legitimate democratic activity?

By A Representative The National Investigation Agency's Hyderabad branch has issued notices to more than ten individuals in Telangana in connection with FIR No. RC-04/2025. Those served include activists, former student leaders, civil rights advocates, poets, writers, retired schoolteachers, and local leaders associated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Indian National Congress.

Asbestos contamination in children’s products highlights global oversight gaps

By A Representative A commentary published by the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) has drawn attention to the challenges governments face in responding effectively to global public-health risks. In an article written by Laurie Kazan-Allen and published on March 5, 2026, the author examines how the discovery of asbestos contamination in children’s play products has raised questions about regulatory oversight and international product safety. The article opens by reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that governments in several countries were slow to respond to early warning signs of the crisis. Referring to the experience of the United Kingdom, the author writes that delays in implementing protective measures contributed to “232,112 recorded deaths and over a million people suffering from long Covid.” The commentary uses this example to illustrate what it describes as the dangers of underestimating emerging threats. Attention then turns...

The kitchen as prison: A feminist elegy for domestic slavery

By Garima Srivastava* Kumar Ambuj stands as one of the most incisive voices in contemporary Hindi poetry. His work, stripped of ornamentation, speaks directly to the lived realities of India’s marginalized—women, the rural poor, and those crushed under invisible forms of violence. His celebrated poem “Women Who Cook” (Khānā Banātī Striyāṃ) is not merely about food preparation; it is a searing indictment of patriarchal domestic structures that reduce women’s existence to endless, unpaid labour.

Aligning too closely with U.S., allies, India’s silence on IRIS Dena raises troubling questions

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The reported sinking of the Iranian ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka raises troubling questions about international norms and the credibility of the so-called rule-based order. If indeed the vessel was attacked by the American Navy while returning from a joint exercise in Visakhapatnam, it would represent a serious breach of trust and a violation of the principles that govern such cooperative engagements. Warships participating in these exercises are generally not armed for combat; they are meant to symbolize solidarity and friendship. The incident, therefore, is not only shocking but also deeply ironic.

India’s foreign policy at crossroads: Cost of silence in the face of aggression

By Venkatesh Narayanan, Sandeep Pandey The widely anticipated yet unprovoked attack on Iran on March 1 by the United States and Israel has drawn sharp criticism from several quarters around the world. Reports indicate that the strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties, including 165 elementary school girls, 20 female volleyball players, and many other civilians.

India’s green energy push faces talent crunch amidst record growth at 16% CAGR

By Jag Jivan* A new study by a top consulting firm has found that India’s cleantech sector is entering a decisive growth phase, with strong policy backing, record capacity additions and surging investor interest, but facing mounting pressure on talent supply and rising compensation costs .

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Search This Blog