42 Retired Judges Back ECI, Call Opposition’s Allegations a ‘Campaign Without Evidence’

A letter by 42 retired judges defending the Election Commission of India (ECI) amid Opposition criticism over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has brought the debate over institutional independence, electoral transparency and accountability into focus.

In an open letter issued on Thursday, the former judges described attacks on constitutional institutions as a “campaign without evidence” and argued that allegations of electoral manipulation should be substantiated through legal proceedings rather than public protests.

The signatories, including former Supreme Court judges Hemant Gupta and Pankaj Mittal, maintained that election law empowers the Commission to revise electoral rolls and said similar exercises had been conducted in the past.

The intervention comes as INDIA bloc leaders accuse Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of conducting revisions to benefit the BJP, a charge rejected by both the party and the poll panel. Opposition leaders have demanded Kumar’s resignation and staged protests in the national capital.

The controversy raises questions beyond the Commission’s legal authority to revise voter lists. The legality of SIR and the fairness of its implementation are separate issues, with concerns over wrongful deletions, notice procedures and access to remedies requiring examination on their merits.

The former judges questioned why allegations of “vote theft” were being made publicly rather than substantiated before courts. However, the absence of evidence presented at a press conference does not, by itself, establish that no irregularities have occurred. Specific complaints must be assessed on the basis of verifiable records and responses from election authorities.