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INDIA bloc stages symbolic 'public impeachment' of CEC; what the removal process requires

1 November 2026 · ⏱ 2 ਮਿੰਟ · GS2: Constitutional bodies; Election Commission

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ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ?

A CEC cannot be sacked by the government: the Article 324(5) removal route every Polity answer needs

A symbolic event drew attention to Article 324(5), which makes the CEC removable only like a Supreme Court Judge.

Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2019

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What you need to know

2 ਮਿੰਟ

Opposition parties of the INDIA bloc held a symbolic 'public impeachment' of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at a mock Parliament in Delhi.

Constitutionally, under Article 324(5) the CEC can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court Judge, which needs a special majority in both Houses of Parliament, and the CEC's service conditions cannot be altered to his disadvantage after appointment.

ਸਰੋਤ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)

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ਮੁੱਖ ਤੱਥ

Remember these

  • Article 324(5): the CEC is removable only in like manner and on like grounds as a Supreme Court Judge
  • Removal of a SC Judge needs a special majority in both Houses of Parliament (Article 124(4))
  • The CEC's service conditions cannot be varied to his disadvantage after appointment
  • Article 324 vests superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission
  • Other Election Commissioners can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC
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ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼ · ਮੇਨਜ਼

How the exam will ask it

ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼

  • The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  • The conditions of service of the Chief Election Commissioner cannot be varied to his disadvantage after appointment.
  • Removal of the CEC requires a special majority in both Houses of Parliament, not a simple executive decision.
  • Article 324 provides for the Election Commission, a constitutional body.

ਮੇਨਜ਼

GS2: Constitutional bodies and independence of the Election Commission. The issue is political contestation over the CEC's conduct; Article 324(5) offers security of tenure by tying removal to the Supreme Court Judge route, and any removal needs a special majority in both Houses. The way forward is to protect institutional independence through transparent appointment and credible, accountable functioning.

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PYQ connection

A question UPSC has already asked on this

🔁 UPSC PYQ CONNECTION · UPSC CSE 2019

Consider the following statements:

  1. The motion to impeach a judge of the supreme court of India cannot be rejected by the speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
  2. The constitution of India defines and gives details of what constitutes 'incapacity and proved misbehaviour' of the judges of the Supreme Court of India.
  3. The details of the process of the impeachment of the judges of the Supreme Court of India are given in the judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.
  4. If the motion of the impeachment of a judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each house of the parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that house and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2
  2. 3 only
  3. 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 3 and 4
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ

ਜਵਾਬ: C

Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.

Practise this PYQ →
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Quick recall

Answer before you reveal

With reference to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, consider the following statements:

  1. The CEC can be removed from office in like manner and on like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  2. The conditions of service of the CEC can be varied to his disadvantage after appointment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ

ਜਵਾਬ: A — Correct: 1 only — Article 324(5) provides for removal in like manner and on like grounds as a Supreme Court Judge, while statement 2 is false. • 2 only — wrong: Statement 2 is false, because Article 324(5) bars varying the CEC's service conditions to his disadvantage after appointment. • Both 1 and 2 — wrong: Statement 2 fails: the Constitution protects the CEC's service conditions after appointment. • Neither 1 nor 2 — wrong: Statement 1 is correct under Article 324(5), so 'neither' cannot be right.

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