ELECTION
COMMISSION OF INDIA
The
Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judicial constitutional
body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India. It was
established on 25th January, 1950 under Article 324 of the
Constitution of India.
STRUCTURE OF ELECTION COMMISSION:
The Commission presently consists of a chief Election Commissioner and
two Election Commissioners, appointed by the President. The Chief Election
Commissioner can be removed from his office by Parliament with 2/3 majority in
LOK SABHA and RAJYA SABHA on the ground of proved misbehavior or incapacity. Other
Election Commission can be removed by the President on the recommendation of
the Chief Election Commissioner. Salary of Chief Commissioner is same as of
Justice of Supreme Court of India. All three Commissioners have same right of
taking a decision. Tenure of Election Commissioners is 6 years or up to 65
years of age whichever is earlier. The Election Commission shall have the power
superintendence, direction and control of all elections to Parliament and the
State Legislatures and of elections to the office of the President and
Vice-President.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF ELECTION COMMISSION
The Election Commission enjoys complete autonomy and
is insulated from any kind of executive interference.
The body also functions as a quasi-judicial body in
matters of electoral disputes and other matters involving the conduct of
elections.
Its recommendation and opinions are binding on the
President of India. However, the decisions of the body are liable for
independent judiciary reviews by courts acting on electoral petitions.
It is responsible for planning and executing a whole
amount of complex operations that go into the conduct of elections. However,
election forces and the police is deemed to be on deputation to the Election
Commission, which takes effective control of personnel, movable and immovable Government
properties it deems necessary for successful completion of the electoral process.
1)
To prepare, revise, update and maintain the list of
votes for election to the Parliament, state legislatures, local bodies and to
the office of the President and the Vice-President of India.
2)
To conduct and
supervise elections and bye-elections to the Parliament, State Legislature and
to the office of the President and the Vice-President of India.
3)
To delimit
constituencies for election to the Parliament and to the state Legislature, and
to allot the number of seats to each of them.
4)
To fix the
election programme, including date for nomination and scrutiny of candidates, and
date of elections, make arrangements for setting up necessary number of polling
booths, etc.
5)
To advise the President or the Governor of the
concerned state, as the case may be, regarding all electoral matters, including
questions relating to disqualification of members.
6)
To prepare
guidelines for a code of conduct for political parties candidates and voters.
7)
To fix the
limit of election expenses and to examine the accounts of electoral expenditure
submitted by the candidates.
8)
To determine
criteria for recognizing political parties, and then recognize them and decide
their election symbols and allocate time to them for the use of radio and
television in order to help them reach out to the people on election issues.
9)
To prepare a list of free symbols for allotment to
independent candidates.
10) To settle election disputes and petitions, referred to
it by the President or the Governor of a state.
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