Supreme Court warns ‘higher’ CEC makes election commissioners ‘dysfunctional’

Election Commission of India. File | Photo credit: Aman Raj

Almost four decades ago, the Supreme Court had warned that if the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) functions in a manner that sees himself as superior and his word final, the Election Commissioners (ECs) will be deemed “dysfunctional or ornamental”.

The court ruled that leaving the “exclusive and unchecked” powers of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the hands of one person would violate the democratic rule.

Published – 26 Sep 2026 20:04 IST