Lawyers from across Kerala gathered near the Kerala High Court premises on Tuesday evening to symbolically impeach Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning the functioning and independence of the Election Commission of India.
The assembly was organised by the Indian Association of Lawyers (IAL)with representatives from 88 court centres across the State invited to participate.
The lawyers assembled in front of the Kerala High Court Advocates Association Golden Jubilee Chamber Complex at 4:30 PM holding banners and the Constitution and demanding Kumar's impeachment.
They collectively recited the Preamble and passed a resolution symbolically impeaching Kumar.
"The confidence of the people in the neutrality of the Election Commission, strikes at the roots of our democratic system of governance and further resolve that Sri Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner of India, be and is hereby symbolically impeached," the resolution stated.
The lawyers also requested the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha to consider the notice of motion for Kumar's removal under Article 324 (5)read with Article 124 (4) of the Constitution and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 so that the allegations could be examined in accordance with law in an impartial manner.
This symbolic impeachment comes amid nationwide protests demanding the removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Following the demonstration, IAL organised a constitutional convention on the theme "Independence of Election Commission of India - Compromised?" at the Kerala High Court Chamber Complex.
Former Supreme Court Justice Kurian Joseph delivered the inaugural address, while former Kerala High Court Justice K Balakrishnan Nair delivered the Keynote address.
The speakers expressed their concern over the alleged denial of voting rights and the growing concentration of power with Election Commission.
Author KR Meera, Senior Counsel K Gopalakrishna Kurup as well as advocate Anil S Raj of the Indian Lawyers Congress, addressed the gathering and demanded the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner from office.
They said that the Kumar acted beyond his authority, disregarded the views of the other two Election Commissioners and failed to protect citizen's voting rights during the revision of electoral rolls.
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