Centre restricts public access to election documents

New Delhi

The Centre has revised the Conduct of Election Rules, limiting public access to certain election-related documents. This decision follows a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court instructing the Election Commission (EC) to share all poll-related documents concerning the recent Haryana Assembly elections.

On December 20, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification stating that while the public can still access election records, the scope is now restricted to documents specifically mentioned in the Conduct of Election Rules. The amendment was made in consultation with the EC, as reported by sources.

Previously, Rule 93(2)(a) of the 1961 Conduct of Election Rules allowed “all other papers relating to the election” to be open for public inspection. However, the updated rule specifies that only “all other papers as specified in these rules relating to the election” will be accessible.

Reacting to the change, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed concerns on platform X, calling it proof of the declining integrity of the electoral process under the Election Commission of India. He added that this amendment would be challenged in court.

The revised rules imply that public access to election documents will now be limited to those explicitly listed in the Conduct of Election Rules.