'Can't pass order on the basis of news report': SC issues notice to poll panel, CEC, two ECs and Centre

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 5) refused to pass an interim order on a plea seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and issued notices to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Kumar and the two other Election Commissioners. The top court has responses in a week on a plea challenging the manner in which the poll panel led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar took decisions allegedly without the approval of two Election Commissioners. In addition, the top court has also issued a notice to the Union



Government. 

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions of senior advocate Vikas Singh and issued the notice.

The bench said the decisions of the Election Commission have to be either unanimous or by majority and that it presumed that this is how all decisions were taken. "After notice, if they come and show that ABC decisions were taken without unanimity, we will take those decisions back," the court said.