Overview

• The Supreme Court has set a new deadline of early May for the Centre and Election Commission of India (ECI) to respond to petitions challenging the December 2024 amendment to Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.
• The amendment limits public access to election-related electronic records, including CCTV footage and webcasting recordings, citing concerns over voter privacy and potential misuse of such materials.
• Petitioners, including Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj, argue that the rule change violates constitutional rights to information, transparency, and free and fair elections.
• The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for the week of July 21, 2025, following the extended response period for the Centre and ECI.
• Critics contend the amendment undermines electoral accountability by narrowing the scope of documents available for public inspection, while the government defends the changes as necessary to prevent misuse of sensitive election data.