The Election Commission of India (ECI) was criticized by the Congress on Saturday for changing regulations pertaining to electronic documents, such as the examination of candidate video footage, webcasting recordings, and CCTV footage. The party blamed “the rapidly eroding integrity of the electoral process managed by the Election Commission” for the rule revisions.
The election commission was also charged by the party with compromising electoral openness.
Ramesh said in a post on X, “If there was ever a vindication of our assertions regarding the rapidly eroding integrity of the electoral process managed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in recent times, this is it”.
According to the Congress leader, who shared a notification from December 20, “This move of the ECI will be challenged legally right away.”
The general secretary of the Congress questioned, “Why is the ECI so afraid of transparency?”
What is the amendment that Congress attacked EC for?
According to PTI, the government has modified an election law to prohibit the public from viewing some electronic documents, including CCTV cameras, webcasting footage, and candidate video recordings, in order to guard against their misuse.
The Union law ministry on Friday changed Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 to limit the kinds of “papers” or documents that are available for public view, based on the Election Commission’s (EC) proposal.
All “papers” pertaining to elections must be available for public view in accordance with Rule 93. The words “as specified in these rules” are added after “papers” in the amendment.
Officials from the EC and the Law Ministry independently clarified that the “trigger” for the revision was a court case.
Electronic documents like CCTV camera footage, webcasting footage, and video recordings of candidates during the Model Code of Conduct period are not covered by the Conduct of Election Rules, according to PTI, even though documents like nomination forms, the appointment of election agents, results, and election account statements are.
An EC functionary told PTI: “There have been instances where such electronic records have been sought, citing the rules. The amendment ensures that only papers mentioned in the rules are available for public inspection and any other document which has no reference in the rules is not allowed for public inspection.”
According to EC officials, voter confidentiality may be jeopardized if CCTV footage from inside polling places is misused. Additionally, the video could be utilized to create artificial intelligence (AI)-generated tales.
All of this information, including video, is accessible to candidates. They will also be able to access it following the modification. But, another official stated, “others can always approach the courts to get such electronic records.”
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