Politics
ECI keeps most election CCTV footage for 45 days
Hindustan Times··2d ago
The Supreme Court criticised the Election Commission of India after it said counting video from Karnataka's 2023 Sringeri assembly seat could not be traced. Congress MLA TD Rajegowda sought the footage after a high court recount overturned his 201-vote win. Since May 2025, the ECI generally keeps electoral videos for 45 days after results, unless a legal challenge is pending.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Most polling and counting videos may be destroyed 45 days after results if no petition is filed.
- Public inspection under Rule 93 now covers only papers named in the Conduct of Election Rules.
- CCTV, webcast and candidate video recordings are not treated as publicly inspectable papers.
What's Happening
- Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva said they would not accept lame excuses on missing records.
- The court warned it could draw an adverse inference if the ECI fails to produce what it holds.
- Rajegowda's Sringeri win was overturned on recount in favour of BJP's DN Jeevaraj.
How Retention Rules Changed
- Before the May 30, 2025 instructions, polling-day and counting footage was kept for one year each.
- A December 2024 law ministry amendment limited Rule 93 inspection to papers specified in the rules.
- Jairam Ramesh's challenge to that amendment remains pending in the Supreme Court.
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