Congress Chief Kharge Opposes Rule Change on Election Document Access
The Congress Chief has criticized the government’s decision to restrict access to electronic election records. The Union Law Ministry amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, limiting public access to CCTV footage and video recordings.
Opposition’s Concerns
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called the move a “calibrated attack” on democracy. He accused the government of systematically eroding the Election Commission’s independence.
“This amendment undermines the Constitution and democracy. We will fight to protect them,” Kharge said. He also compared the decision to the government’s earlier move to remove the Chief Justice from the panel appointing election commissioners.
Rule Amendment Details
The amendment added the phrase “as specified in these rules” to clarify that only certain election-related papers are open for inspection. These include nomination forms, election results, and agents’ appointments. However, electronic records like CCTV footage and webcasting videos are now excluded.
Election Commission officials justified the change, citing concerns about voter privacy and the misuse of footage through AI to spread fake narratives.
Official Clarification
An official clarified that candidates could still access electronic records, and individuals could approach the court if needed. No changes have been made to access other election-related papers, the official added.
Congress’s Response
Kharge criticized the Election Commission for its alleged bias, stating that complaints from the Congress about poll irregularities often go unacknowledged. “The EC is not behaving independently despite being a quasi-judicial body,” he said.
Background of the Amendment
The amendment follows a Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing the release of election-related documents, including CCTV footage, in a case challenging the Election Commission. Officials said the rule change was necessary to resolve ambiguities about what constitutes election papers.
This controversy adds to ongoing tensions between the government and the Opposition over electoral reforms.
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