Supreme Court PIL seeks probe into Election Commission of India

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking the formation of an independent expert committee to investigate alleged institutional deficiencies within the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, the petition requests that the committee be headed by a former Chief Justice of India or a retired Supreme Court judge. The goal is to conduct an impartial review of the ECI’s functioning, decision-making processes, and electoral systems to facilitate institutional reforms and ensure public trust in democratic processes.

The petition also raises concerns regarding Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) technology, specifically questioning whether its security protocols meet international standards. Additionally, it calls for a review of the processes used to amend voter lists and manage voter registration.

Furthermore, the plea urges the court to implement strict prohibitions on the use of religion, religious symbols, and hate speech during election campaigns to curb communalism and religious polarization.