Thiruvananthapuram, September 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena has alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar acted arbitrarily while introducing changes to Form 6, claiming that the views of the other Election Commissioners were not taken into account.
Meena, a retired IAS officer and Kumar’s batchmate, said he had written to Kumar and Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu highlighting differences over the manner in which decisions were being taken by the Election Commission.
“The Election Commission is taking independent decisions. With three members, the majority view has to be taken. But Gyanesh acted arbitrarily,” Meena said.
He alleged that changes made to Form 6, which is used in the electoral-roll enrolment process, were contrary to provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the election rules of 1961.
According to Meena, changes with statutory implications could not be introduced merely through an executive order. “I wrote to both my batchmates pointing out these issues,” he said.
Meena further alleged that the other two Election Commissioners had the right to formally record their differences with the CEC and claimed that the manner in which the changes were introduced represented a departure from transparency in the functioning of the poll panel.
“Transparency was flouted by Gyanesh,” he said.
The former election official said the Election Commission, as an independent constitutional authority, was expected to take decisions collectively and in accordance with the law. He also said the Commission should remain free from pressure from any quarter, including the Prime Minister.
“The Election Commission just cannot succumb to any sort of pressure, even from the Prime Minister, as they are given full immunity,” Meena said.
His remarks come amid scrutiny of the functioning of the three-member Election Commission and reported differences within the panel over electoral-roll procedures. Meena said the issue went beyond differences of opinion and concerned the manner in which statutory provisions and established procedures were being handled.
Meena’s claims about the legality and procedure surrounding the Form 6 changes are his own and were not independently established in the statement.
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