Supreme Court to Hear Pleas Seeking Suspension of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of petitions on Monday, October 5, 2026, seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations that he made key decisions without the approval of two fellow election commissioners, following widespread demonstrations across New Delhi and Mumbai.

A three-judge Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana will hear the pleas. The petitions were filed by Rakesh Kumar Singh and advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, challenging the manner in which the poll panel has functioned under Kumar's leadership.

The petitioners have specifically challenged several administrative decisions, guidelines, and software changes implemented by the poll body. According to the pleas, these actions were allegedly carried out by Kumar unilaterally, without obtaining the mandatory concurrence or consensus of the two other election commissioners.

The judicial proceedings come directly after intense street demonstrations on Sunday, October 4, 2026, where protesters demanded Kumar's immediate removal from the post of Chief Election Commissioner. Demonstrators also called for an immediate suspension of the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

In New Delhi, confrontations broke out between demonstrators and law enforcement personnel on Ashoka Road as protesters attempted to march toward Jantar Mantar. The Delhi Police had set up heavy barricades along the route to halt the demonstration. Police personnel intercepted the march on Ashoka Road and detained nearly 500 people.

Demonstrations seeking Kumar's removal were also reported concurrently from Mumbai as opposition to the commission's recent administrative steps grew. Following Sunday's detentions, the INDIA bloc has announced plans to stage further demonstrations outside the Chief Electoral Officer's office on Wednesday.