Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Law Articles
SEARCH
Microsoft Download
this article precribes the information about the democratic role of Election
Commission...
Indian Democracy & Role Of Election Commission
The Preamble to the Constitution declares India to be a Democratic, Republic. All of us who are
working for protection & upholding the civil rights of the citizens of India are deeply concerned with
democratic polity of the country. “Democracy” is regarded as a basic feature of the Constitution as
held in the
The growth of democracy is possible only when peoples are entitled to participate in the democratic
process pf the country. According to Art. 326 elections in India are conducted on the basis of the
“Adult Suffrage”, which is most important pillar of the democracy.
In order to ensure free & fair elections the Constitution establishes the Election Commission. In 1950,
the Election Commission has established in India. This is a body autonomous in character and
insulated from political pressures and executive influence. Care has been taken to ensure that the
Election Commission work as an independent body free from external pressures from the party in
power or executive of the day.[2] It is duty of the Election Commission to carry free & fair elections to
the various legislative bodies in the country and guarantee the growth of democracy. There are
mixed populated states. There are native people as well as others who are racially, linguistically and
culturally different but to supervise, organize and conduct election the Commission is setup for All –
India Level.
Top
Election Laws in India are based on the basic values of constitutional democracy. In order to protect
www.legalservicesindia.com/article/108/Role-Of-Election-Commission.html 1/9
10/20/22, 6:11 PM Role Of Election Commission
these values from unnecessary legislative & executive interference the framers of the Constitution
Ads by
incorporated it as constitutional provisions. So when the question regarding amendment of election
laws and its validity challenged before the court of law it may necessary to examine that, whether
Add the extension Send feedback Why this ad?
amendment is against basic values of democracy of the Constitution.[3] Downl
Earn points toward free gift cards with Microsoft Rewards. Microsoft
The Election Commission has constitutional status.[4] The superintendence, direction & control of
elections to be vested in the Election Commission. It deals with the preparation of rolls conducting all
elections of Parliament and State Legislature. The Election Commission consists of:
a) Chief Election Commission
b) Other such numbers of Election Commissioners as fixed by the President from time to time.
c) There shall be a Regional Election Commissioner.
d) The President or Governor on request by the Election Commission or Regional Election
Commissioner shall make available such staff to discharge functions effectively.
e) The Election Commissioner or Regional Election Commissioner shall not be removed except on the
recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
f) Their tenure of service, other conditions shall be decided by the President.
Functions:
The Election Commission performs following functions:
a) The superintendence, direction & control of elections.
b) To conduct elections of various bodies.
c) To advice the President or Governor of a State for disqualification of any member.
d) To pass any order in respect of the conduct of the elections when there is no law or rule made
under the law.
Ads by
Send feedback Why this ad?
The Commission held responsible to Mr. Narendra Modi and Smt. Sonia Gandhi for violation of
Model code of Conduct by making controversial remarks during election campaign in 2007 Gujarat Top
Assembly polls.
www.legalservicesindia.com/article/108/Role-Of-Election-Commission.html 2/9
10/20/22, 6:11 PM Role Of Election Commission
The campaign period was reduced by the Election Commission from 21 to 14 days for Lok Sabha and
Assembly elections; it is for to trim down election expenditure. The Election Commission’s this
attempt to impose these measures has been a move in the right direction.[10] Moreover, Election
Commission takes details of his assets on affidavit at the time of submitting nomination paper.
In Common Cause: A registered Society v/s. Union of India[11], it was pointed out that, in India
elections are fought on the basis of money. The Court ruled that, purity of election is fundamental to
the democracy and Commission can ask the candidates about the expenditure incurred by them and
political party for this purpose.
The Election Commission making use of Information Technology launched a web site of its own on
28TH February, 1998 i.e. www.eci.gov.in. It helps to provide accurate information, management,
administration and instant results of the elections. In 1998, Election Commission taken a bold step
and decided programme for ‘computerizations’ of the electoral rolls.
To prevent electoral fraud, in 1993 EPICs – Electorals Photo Identity Cards were issued. In, 2004
elections it was mandatory to possess card. During 2007 Punjab Assembly Elections, Parneet Kaur –
MP from Patiala could not cast her vote till late afternoon as she had misplaced her voter’s card. The
Karnataka become the first State to prepare electoral rolls with photographs of voters in 2008
elections. The State Election Commission developed the electoral roll management software called Top
‘STEERS’[12].
www.legalservicesindia.com/article/108/Role-Of-Election-Commission.html 3/9
10/20/22, 6:11 PM Role Of Election Commission
The Constitution Amendment Act, 1993 made Election Commission to be multi member body. A
single member Election Commission would have no longer unbridled powers. In view of the large
size of the country and the huge electoral the Election Commission also made a proposal for the
appointment of Regional Election Commissioners to different zones to reduce its burden.
In answering the questions, the Supreme Court held that, Commission is a Tribunal for the purpose
of Article 136 while deciding such a controversy. Such issue decided in the case of A.P.H.L.
Conference, Shillong v/s. W. A. Sangama[15].
Further, Court speaking about the powers and functions of the Commission said that, regulating loud
speaker for electioneering and order issued for that is valid, as held in the Mohinder Singh v/s. Chief
Election Commissioner[16]
The Commission has expressed its serious concern over anti - social activities. Commission made
norms and recommendation to the government to curb the menace of criminalization of politics.
They observed that,
“All political parties to reach a consensus that, no person with a criminal background will be given the
party ticket”.
The candidates are obliged to submit an affidavit in a prescribed form declaring their criminal
records, including convictions, acquittals charge pending cases. The information so furnished by the
candidates shall be disseminated to the public, and to the print and electronic media.
9. Right to Know About Candidates.
In order to make democracy healthy & unpolluted, citizens have right to know about Candidates to
whom they prefer as their Representative. To stop criminalization and in the public interest the past
of candidate should not kept in dark. In the case of
However, failing to furnish required information on nomination papers shall be liable to reject
nomination papers by the Returning Officer. Furnishing wrong and incomplete information also
liable for penal action. This information is available to the general public, and to the print and
electronic media, free of cost.
There should be provision compelling winning candidates periodically to report his work to
constituency and measures taken by him for people grievances as remedy. This sense of
accountability must be given legal shape and punishment for default. There are other important
innovations to make specially elections clean, candidate competent and incorruptible. Invigilation is
important from the beginning to the end of the election process.[18]
Further Commission advised him take it or leave it. After this , Election Commission letting the
abusing politicians like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Udhav and Jaswant Singh and many more,
simply advising them ‘self-restraint’ but without any concrete action, for their objectionable voice
against each other in public during election campaign.[20]
12. Criticism
The democracy is regarded as basic structure in India, but if we observe the situation during the
election, it seems that there is no democracy. The notion of Democracy is changed as:
Government off the people,
Buy the people, and
Far the people.
In the latest elections the Commission affiliated some of the electorals differently to the election of
Lok Sabha and Legislative Council of State, which causes inconvenience to the people. Commission
carried out number of reforms in the process but still it is not proved effective and disputes are
arising for its ineffective performance.
13. Conclusion:
The Commission over the years has conducted number of laudable electoral reforms to strengthen
democracy and enhance fairness of elections. The commission has taken best steps to stop
malpractices during elections by using advance technology. However, all these efforts taken by the
Election Commission will help to grow democracy and its confidence in the minds of people. The
Supreme Court always examined the legal and other issues of elections and always emphasized to
protect the fundamentals of democracy, which reflected through its judgments. The Commission
should be empowered to punish the greedy politicians for violation of Code, Laws, and Orders of the
Courts. A country’s administration should be governed not by the bullet but by the ballot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] AIR 1975 SC 2299
[2] Indian Constitutional Law, Prof. M. P. Jain, 5th Edition, 2009, Pg. 806.
[3] PUCL v/s. Union of India, AIR 2003 SC 2363
[4] Article 324
[5] AIR 2000 SC 2979
[6] Art. 329
[7] AIR 1995 SC 852
[8] AIR 2006 Ker 229
[9] C. Rajshekhar, Ensuring Free & Fair Elections : Role of Election Commission of India, Indian Bar
Review, Vol XXVI (3 & 4)1999, Pg. 103 Top
[10] http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article1049.html
[11] (1996) 2 SCC 752
www.legalservicesindia.com/article/108/Role-Of-Election-Commission.html 5/9
10/20/22, 6:11 PM Role Of Election Commission
[11] (1996) 2 SCC 752
[12] http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article1049.html Ads by
[13] AIR 1991 SC 1745
[14] Supra note 5 Add the extension Send feedback Why this ad? Downl
[15] AIR 1997 SC 2155Earn points toward free gift cards with Microsoft Rewards. Microsoft
[16] AIR 1978 SC 851
[17] (2002) 5 SCC 294
[18] J. Krishna Iyer, Law & Life, Universal Law Publication, 2008 Edition, Pg. 123 – 124.
[19] Tuesday , Mar 24, 2009, http://www.indianexpress.com/news/its-an-advisory-take-it-or-leave-it-
ec-on-varun/438472/0
[20] http://www.merinews.com/article/advisory-role-of-election-commission
Email: nagnath_borphalkar@legalserviceindia.com Website: www.legalserviceindia.com
Views: 56990
Comments :
Top
www.legalservicesindia.com/article/108/Role-Of-Election-Commission.html 6/9
10/20/22, 6:11 PM Role Of Election Commission
Ads by
Follow the Procedure Below To Submit Your Articles
Add the extension Send feedback Why this ad?
Downl
SubmitEarn
yourpoints
Article by using
toward ourcards
free gift online form
with Click here
Microsoft Rewards. Microsoft
Note* we only accept Original Articles, we will not accept
Articles Already Published
in other websites.
For Further Details
Contact: editor@legalserviceindia.com
Top
www.legalservicesindia.com/article/108/Role-Of-Election-Commission.html 7/9
10/20/22, 6:11 PM Role Of Election Commission
Ads by
File Divorce in Delhi - Right Now!
File Your Mutual Divorce -Add the extension
Send feedback Why this ad?
Downl
Earn points
Call us Right Now at: 9650499965 / ortoward
email free
at: tapsash@gmail.com
gift cards with Microsoft Rewards. Microsoft
Chandigarh Pune
Siliguri
Chandigarh
Allahabad
Nagpur Durgapur
Hyderabad
Lucknow
Nashik
Janjgir
Coimbatore
Noida
Ahmedabad Jaipur
Eluru
Gurgaon
Surat
Ludhiana
Belgaum
Faridabad
Indore
Dimapur
Cochin
Jalandhar
Agra
Guwahati
Rajkot
Vapi
Jalgaon Amritsar
Jodhpur
Top
www.legalservicesindia.com/article/108/Role-Of-Election-Commission.html 8/9
10/20/22, 6:11 PM Role Of Election Commission
Add a comment...
Amrosh Khan
Ever since the invention of cosmetics, people have been searching for a way to store their products.
Cosmetic organizers can be a great solution for you and your makeup collection! In this blog post, we
will explore how to choose the right organizer https://www.celebshop.pk/ for you and what makes a
good organizer.
Like · Reply · 24w
Kina Patel
These days, there is no value of a piece of content that is not interesting to read, that is not unique and
that is not rich in information. I suppose, this piece of content has it all. It is well-written; it is interesting
and definitely unique. The information that is given is more than enough for people to inform themselves
on the respective topic. One more mention, I loved the headline too!
https://thestudycafe.com/corruption-in-india-essay/
Like · Reply · 2 · 24w
Shrutika Srivastava
Great! Had an interesting time reading your blog. If you want to know about accounting services then
click here <a href="https://aavana.in/accounting-services">Accounting Services</a>
Like · Reply · 24w
VIRAL News
These days false cases are being filled everywhere . Its very sad that the law that is being made to save
the women from domestic violence is being used by womens as weapon. Supreme court itself had
obverserved that 498A cases are legal terrorism . It is rightfully explained by Advocate Vishal Saini in
this article about false 498A cases
https://vishalsainiadv.com/.../how-to-fight-a-false-498a.../
Like · Reply · 2 · 23w
Top
www.legalservicesindia.com/article/108/Role-Of-Election-Commission.html 9/9