CEC Gyanesh Kumar has lost public trust and must be removed, say former bureaucrats, activists

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the announcement of the Elections in Five states Assam, Keralam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. File | Photo Credit: MOORTHY RV

A group of senior retired bureaucrats, civil society activists, and academics accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of six instances of “proved misbehaviour” and sought his removal, but could not submit their “notice of impeachment” to him in person, as heavy barricading and police deployment prevented the delegation from reaching the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) office on Mondy (October 5, 2026).

They subsequently emailed their “chargesheet” to the CEC. It invokes Article 324(5) of the Constitution, which protects the CEC from removal except on grounds of “proved misbehaviour or incapacity”, and alleges that the CEC’s conduct amounted to a sustained disregard of law and constitutional duty.

The 14-member delegation included former Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, and other former IAS officers and ambassadors.

‘People’s impeachment notice’