After a furore over reports in The Indian Express suggesting that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar did not take the other two Election Commissioners, SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, into confidence on several key decisions, including those related to the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise, the poll panel on Wednesday said that “differing views” were a normal part of deliberations in any organisation.In a press note, the Election Commission of India said, “Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations in any institution. They are a part of the decision-making process before a final decision is taken. Not just the three commissioners, every officer of the commission is fully authorised to give suggestions for improving the electoral system.”The EC said it was a constitutional body that functioned under the strict mandate of Article 324 of the Constitution, statutory rules and established institutional conventions.“The commission operates as a multi-member constitutional body. Written notes, observations, technical suggestions, and internal checks and balances are standard, ongoing practices designed to ensure complete transparency, legal compliance and operational rigour. All actions of the EC have been in accordance with the law and the commission’s instructions,” it said.The poll body said, “All official orders, decisions and administrative directions issued by the commission carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.”It said, “Any operational queries or inputs raised by commission members during the drafting stage are part of standard administrative practice aimed at safeguarding voter rights. The suggestions made by the commissioners were intended for further improving the electoral process.”The clarification came after media reports claimed that several orders and notifications, including those related to the SIR, were issued without the full commission’s approval.However, the Election Commission did not specifically deny the reports.