India, Oct. 14 -- Former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph has stressed that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) must not enjoy any special privilege as an individual, arguing that authority should rest with the institution rather than the person holding the office. He called for stronger constitutional safeguards to protect the independence and integrity of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

"CEC by himself shall not enjoy any special privilege. It is meant to be an institution, not a person. Unfortunately, people holding high constitutional office in our country have, according to me, what they call a misguided impression that there is power concentrated on the person...If it is an institutional exercise of that power, y...