ECI says full Commission approved press note defending poll panel

New Delhi, Sep 24 (UNI) The Election Commission of India on Thursday made it clear that its press note issued on Wednesday amid questions over the functioning of the poll panel had the approval of the full Commission, indicating that it represented the collective position of all three Election Commissioners.

Responding to queries on whether Press Note No. 119, dated September 23, had been issued with the consent of all the members of the Commission, the ECI said: "With reference to such similar queries, it is clarified that the press note No. 119 dated 23/09/2026 has been issued with the approval of the full Commission."

The poll panel further said that issuing press notes after obtaining the approval of the full Commission was its regular institutional practice. The clarification came amid heightened scrutiny of the functioning of the three-member Commission and questions over the decision-making process within the poll panel, particularly in the wake of its detailed response on Wednesday to criticism surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and reports of differences among the Election Commissioners.

In Wednesday's press note, the ECI had underlined that it is a constitutional body functioning under the mandate of Article 324 of the Constitution, statutory rules and established institutional conventions. It had also stressed that the Commission operates as a multi-member body and takes decisions within the constitutional and statutory framework governing its functioning.

Thursday's clarification specifically addressed questions about whether Press Note No. 119 reflected the position of the entire three-member Commission. The ECI said it had been issued with the approval of the full Commission and added that this was consistent with its regular practice of issuing press notes.

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