ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ECI)

GS 2 – Polity 

About the Election Commission of India (ECI):

Constitutional Foundation

• Established under: Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
• Role: Conducts elections for:
  • Parliament and state legislatures.
  • Offices of the President and Vice President of India.
• Exclusion: Does not oversee local body elections (handled by State Election Commissions).

Key Constitutional Provisions

• Article 324: Empowers ECI to supervise elections and prepare electoral rolls.
• Article 325: Prohibits exclusion from electoral rolls based on religion, race, caste, or sex.
• Article 326: Establishes adult suffrage (voting rights for all citizens aged 18+).
• Article 327: Allows Parliament to legislate on election-related matters.
• Article 328: Empowers state legislatures to legislate on state elections.
• Article 329: Bars judicial interference in electoral matters.

Functions and Jurisdiction

1. Advisory Role:
   • Advises President/Governor on disqualification of MPs/MLAs for corrupt practices.
2. Quasi-Judicial Role:
   • Disqualifies candidates for failing to submit expense accounts.
   • Resolves disputes over political party recognition and symbol allocation.
3. Administrative Role:
   • Manages delimitation of constituencies, voter registration, and electoral rolls.
   • Enforces the Model Code of Conduct.
   • Monitors political campaign expenditures.

Composition

• Structure:
  • Initially headed by a single Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
  • Became a three-member body in 1989 with two Election Commissioners added.
• Appointments:
  • The President of India appoints the CEC and Election Commissioners.
  • Tenure: 6 years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
• Removal:
  • The CEC can only be removed via a special majority in Parliament, similar to the process for removing a Supreme Court judge.