CEC Has No Overriding Power When Outvoted by Other Election Commissioners: S.Y. Quraishi

Kolkata, November 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi has said that decisions within the Election Commission of India (ECI) are governed by majority opinion, with the CEC having no overriding authority when the other two Election Commissioners vote against his position.

Speaking amid ongoing questions over the electoral process and matters before the Supreme Court, Quraishi also emphasised that transparency was essential to maintaining public confidence in democratic institutions.

In an interaction with IANS, he said the Supreme Court proceedings would help establish what had been done correctly and whether any shortcomings or violations had occurred.

” So many questions are being raised and are now before the Supreme Court. The court’s proceedings will make it clear what went wrong and what was done right. I do not know what lies behind the allegations or claims being made. But I know one thing for certain — there must be transparency,” he said.

Quraishi said judicial scrutiny offered an opportunity to bring facts into the open if any action was found to be improper or unlawful. He added that the court would decide the appropriate course of action based on the facts and evidence placed before it.

On the functioning of the Election Commission, the former CEC explained that decisions are taken collectively rather than solely by the head of the institution.

He said that if the two Election Commissioners supported one position while the CEC held a different view, the majority decision would prevail.

“If the two Election Commissioners form the majority, then the CEC becomes part of the minority opinion,” he said.

Quraishi underlined that the CEC could not issue an order contrary to the Commission’s majority decision, adding that the office did not carry a special voting power to override the other members.

His comments come amid continuing public and judicial scrutiny of electoral procedures, with petitions before the Supreme Court raising questions about aspects of the process.