Poll body acted against communal speeches after top court pulled it up and gave it 24 hours to act

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took note of the Election Commission of India (ECI) quickly changing tack on April 15 to pass a flurry of restraining orders against leading political candidates for their communally provocative and divisive speeches.

The ECI orders came shortly after the poll body invited the court’s wrath for describing itself as “toothless” in the face of hate.

“Seems you have got your powers now,” Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said, addressing the ECI on Tuesday.

The CJI was referring to ECI action taken against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi.

All four leaders were variously restrained from election campaigning for 48 to 72 hours.

“We found we have several powers...” senior advocate C.A. Sundaram, who represented the ECI, acknowledged in court.

“So, ECI has woken up to its powers,” Chief Justice Gogoi said pointedly, again.

On Monday, the ECI had claimed it was mostly helpless if candidates engaged in communal diatribe during their campaign speeches. This stand of the ECI had riled Chief Justice Gogoi, who initially threatened to have Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora in court in the next half-hour.

The court had then decided to delve deep into the ECI's claims that its powers were “circumscribed”. It gave the Commission exactly 24 hours to be ready with a response.