42 Former Judges Defend Election Commission, Warn Against ‘Vote Theft’ Allegations

Forty-two former judges have issued an open letter defending the Election Commission of India amid allegations of “vote theft” and criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The former judicial officials warned that repeated accusations against constitutional institutions without substantiated evidence could weaken public confidence in the country’s electoral system. The letter comes amid an escalating political dispute over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, have raised allegations concerning irregularities in voter lists and questioned the functioning of the poll panel. The former judges, however, said that the allegations against the Election Commission needed to be examined against established legal and constitutional procedures. They expressed concern over what they described as attempts to undermine the credibility of institutions responsible for conducting elections.

The signatories also backed the electoral roll revision process, arguing that verification of voter lists is an important part of ensuring the integrity of elections. They said the process should not automatically be viewed as an attempt to disenfranchise voters and stressed the importance of following the prescribed legal mechanisms for raising objections and seeking corrections. The intervention by the former judges comes at a time when the Election Commission has faced sustained criticism from opposition parties over voter-list revisions.

Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly alleged discrepancies in electoral rolls and demanded greater transparency from the poll panel. The Congress has also questioned the manner in which voter names are being verified and removed during the revision exercise. The former judges’ letter takes a different position, cautioning against allegations that could cast doubt on electoral institutions without adequate supporting evidence. They said disagreements over electoral procedures should be addressed through constitutional and legal mechanisms rather than through claims that could damage institutional credibility.

Opposition parties have demanded greater disclosure of electoral data and stronger safeguards for voters, while supporters of the poll panel have maintained that electoral roll revision is necessary to ensure accurate voter lists. The open letter adds another dimension to the ongoing dispute, with former members of the judiciary publicly expressing support for the constitutional framework governing elections.