India, Nov. 6 -- A 2023 law bars courts from hearing any civil or criminal case against a serving or former chief election commissioner (CEC) or election commissioner (EC) over their official acts, a lifelong protection that four petitions in the Supreme Court say goes further than anything the Constitution gives even the President of India.

The court has sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI), and will hear the petitions together on December 18. The challenge comes as the commission faces scrutiny in court over its special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a separate case in Kerala.

The provision is Section 16 of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appoint...