Supreme Court to examine plea on election records preservation

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would examine a petition filed by multiple parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, seeking directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to preserve or file complete Standardized Incident Reports (SIR) records in court.

The petitioners have sought court intervention to ensure comprehensive documentation of election-related matters is maintained and made available for judicial scrutiny. The plea comes as questions have been raised about the accessibility and preservation of official election records.

In response, the Election Commission filed an affidavit maintaining that all its decisions have been taken in accordance with applicable laws and constitutional provisions. The EC further asserted that the Chief Election Commissioner can only be removed through the same procedure applicable to judges of the Supreme Court, underscoring the constitutional protections governing the electoral body's leadership.

The court's decision to examine the petition suggests judicial interest in scrutinizing the matter further, though no immediate orders have been passed. The case reflects ongoing concerns about institutional transparency and the preservation of official records pertaining to electoral processes in India.