Supreme Court postpones hearing on CEC Kumar petitions as Karnataka final roll released
The Supreme Court in New Delhi postponed the hearing on petitions challenging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on 27 October, as Karnataka released its final electoral roll after a Special Intensive Revision that removed over 9. 9 million names, according to The Hindu. Live Law reported that the Court adjourned the hearing and gave petitioners ten days to file a rejoinder, scheduling the next hearing for 17 November. The same outlet noted that the bench had earlier announced it would consider petitions alleging the Chief Election Commissioner acted without the consent of the other commissioners.
The Hindu said the Election Commission filed a 250-page affidavit stating that the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only on the same grounds and procedure as a Supreme Court judge. Live Law also reported that the Commission told the Court more than 1. 6 million appeals against voter inclusions in West Bengal had been filed by state officials, citing Supreme Court orders as authority. NDTV reported that the Commission submitted an affidavit asserting its Special Intensive Revision orders were adopted unanimously and that petitions based on newspaper reports should be dismissed.