Election Commission of India - By Isha

 Election Commission of India – By Isha

Introduction

•  Election Commission of  India is an autonomous constitutional body responsible for administering union elections processes in India.

• This body administers the elections of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Assembly, President and the Vice President.

Background

• Part XV of the Indian Constitution deals with the elections and establishes a commission for the same.

• Article 324 to 325 deals with powers, function, tenure, eligibility etc of the commission and the member.

• The first Chief election commissioner of India was Sukumar Sen.

• The first General Election of India was held in the year 1951-1952.

• In these there were 17.3 crore registered voters.

• From these general election till the 17th General Election of 2019, there have been many changes in the process of elections.

• Article 326 talks about the Universal Adult Franchise and it is also the right to vote which prescribes the minimum age of voting to be 21 years which has been changed to 18 years after the 61st constitutional amendment of 1988.

• The 24th and the current Chief Election Commissioner is Sushil Chandra.

• In the 17th General Elections of 2019 there were around 90 crore voters.

Types of Elections

There are mainly three types of Elections:

• Lok Sabha Elections or the General Elections.

• Rajya Sabha Elections.

• Legislative council Elections.

By the 73rd and 74th Amendment of 1992 Panchayats  and Municipalities were introduced. 

 State Election Commission is responsible for the elections of these local authorities and it is an independent body apart from the election commission.

Allocation of Seates

1. Rajya Sabha – 

There are maximum 250 seats in the Rajya Sabha and the number of current seats are 245 of which 233 members are from the state assembly and 12 members are nominated by the President.

2.  Lok Sabha – 

 There are maximum 552 seats in the Lok Sabha and it’s current occupancy is 545 seats of which 530 are from the state, 20 from the union territories and 2 from Anglo Indian community appointed by the President.

Composition of the Election Commission

• Originally the commission had only one election Commission but after the Election Commissioner Amendment Act 1989, it has been made a multi member body.

• Currently, it consists of one chief election commissioner and two election commissioner. 

• These three officers are appointed by the President.

• All these three officers have equal power and disputes are solved through majority.

• They have a tenure of 6 years or 65 years of age whichever is earlier. 

• They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of a Supreme court of India.

• At the level of Parliament, the supervisor of elections is the Returning Officer, at the level of state and union territories the supervisor is the Chief Electoral officer and at the district level it is the district election officer.

• The procedure for removal of Chief Election Commissioner is same as that of a Supreme court judge.

Articles related to Elections

• Article 324 – An independent authority or a body to be formed to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

• Article 325- No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on ground of religion, race, caste or sex

• Article 326 – Right to vote and Universal Adult Franchise prescribes the minimum age for voting.

• Article 327 – Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to legislature.

• Article 328 – Power of state legislature to make provision with respect to elections to state legislature.

• Article 329- Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.

Functions of Election Commission

• It supervises, directs and controls the process of conducting free and fair elections.

• It decides the election schedule.

• It grants election symbols to the political parties.

• It prepares electoral roll.

• It decides on the location of voting.

• It issues Model Code of Conduct.

• It sets limit for campaign expenditure.

Major Challenges and Way forward

• Over the years there have been reports of malpractices, criminal elements, influence of money in the elections because of which it is losing its transparency.

• The Chief Election Commissioner and the other two election Commissioner are appointed on the choice of the presiding government which is a major drawback.

• The Election Commission need to be more vigilant and watchful against these practices and provide for  free and fair elections in the country.

Election Commission of India – By Isha

Introduction

•  Election Commission of  India is an autonomous constitutional body responsible for administering union elections processes in India.

• This body administers the elections of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Assembly, President and the Vice President.

Background

• Part XV of the Indian Constitution deals with the elections and establishes a commission for the same.

• Article 324 to 325 deals with powers, function, tenure, eligibility etc of the commission and the member.

• The first Chief election commissioner of India was Sukumar Sen.

• The first General Election of India was held in the year 1951-1952.

• In these there were 17.3 crore registered voters.

• From these general election till the 17th General Election of 2019, there have been many changes in the process of elections.

• Article 326 talks about the Universal Adult Franchise and it is also the right to vote which prescribes the minimum age of voting to be 21 years which has been changed to 18 years after the 61st constitutional amendment of 1988.

• The 24th and the current Chief Election Commissioner is Sushil Chandra.

• In the 17th General Elections of 2019 there were around 90 crore voters.

Types of Elections

There are mainly three types of Elections:

• Lok Sabha Elections or the General Elections.

• Rajya Sabha Elections.

• Legislative council Elections.

By the 73rd and 74th Amendment of 1992 Panchayats  and Municipalities were introduced. 

 State Election Commission is responsible for the elections of these local authorities and it is an independent body apart from the election commission.

Allocation of Seates

1. Rajya Sabha – 

There are maximum 250 seats in the Rajya Sabha and the number of current seats are 245 of which 233 members are from the state assembly and 12 members are nominated by the President.

2.  Lok Sabha – 

 There are maximum 552 seats in the Lok Sabha and it’s current occupancy is 545 seats of which 530 are from the state, 20 from the union territories and 2 from Anglo Indian community appointed by the President.

Composition of the Election Commission

• Originally the commission had only one election Commission but after the Election Commissioner Amendment Act 1989, it has been made a multi member body.

• Currently, it consists of one chief election commissioner and two election commissioner. 

• These three officers are appointed by the President.

• All these three officers have equal power and disputes are solved through majority.

• They have a tenure of 6 years or 65 years of age whichever is earlier. 

• They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of a Supreme court of India.

• At the level of Parliament, the supervisor of elections is the Returning Officer, at the level of state and union territories the supervisor is the Chief Electoral officer and at the district level it is the district election officer.

• The procedure for removal of Chief Election Commissioner is same as that of a Supreme court judge.

Articles related to Elections

• Article 324 – An independent authority or a body to be formed to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

• Article 325- No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on ground of religion, race, caste or sex

• Article 326 – Right to vote and Universal Adult Franchise prescribes the minimum age for voting.

• Article 327 – Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to legislature.

• Article 328 – Power of state legislature to make provision with respect to elections to state legislature.

• Article 329- Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.

Functions of Election Commission

• It supervises, directs and controls the process of conducting free and fair elections.

• It decides the election schedule.

• It grants election symbols to the political parties.

• It prepares electoral roll.

• It decides on the location of voting.

• It issues Model Code of Conduct.

• It sets limit for campaign expenditure.

Major Challenges and Way forward

• Over the years there have been reports of malpractices, criminal elements, influence of money in the elections because of which it is losing its transparency.

• The Chief Election Commissioner and the other two election Commissioner are appointed on the choice of the presiding government which is a major drawback.

• The Election Commission need to be more vigilant and watchful against these practices and provide for  free and fair elections in the country.