India, April 7 -- Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla rejected the Opposition's notice seeking chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's removal, arguing that the allegations lack the necessary proof of misbehaviour. A detailed order on the rejection circulated among lawmakers pointed out that some charges involve matters under judicial review.

"While these allegations are relevant for political debate, they do not prima facie meet the high constitutional bar for removal proceedings," the order said. It underlined that the Election Commission of India (ECI) "discharges functions that lie at the very core of our democratic framework". The order added that by their very nature, the ECI's decisions a...