Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is a autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes to Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state legislatures and the offices of the President and Vice President in India.
\/
Election Commission operates under the authority of Constitution, and subsequently enacted Representation of the People Act.
\/
According to Art 324(2) Commission will be composed of a Chief Election Commissioner aided by other Election Commissioners appointed by the President of India.
\/
Originally in 1950, the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. Two additional Commissioners were appointed to the commission for the first time on 16 October 1989, but they had a very short tenure—until 1 January 1990. The Election Commissioner Amendment Act, 1993 made the Election Commission a multi-member body. The concept of a 3-member Commission has been in operation since then, with decision-making power by majority vote.
\/
The Chief Election Commissioner of India can be removed from his office by Parliament with two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the grounds of proven misbehavior or incapacity. Other Election Commissioners can be removed by the President on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
\/
The Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners draw salaries and allowances at par with those of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India as per the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1992.
\/
The Election Commission is regarded as the guardian of free and fair elections. It lay down guidelines for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections. It helps to avoid confusion of the administrative machinery and the electorate and ensures that political parties are brought under the purview of the election commission.
\/
To get rid of the growing influences and vulgar show of money during elections the Election Commission has made many suggestions in this regard. The Election Commission has fixed the legal limits on the amount of money which a candidate can spend during election campaigns. These limits have been revised from time to time.
\/
The Election Commission by appointing observers keeps an eye on the individual account of election expenditure. The contestants are also required to give details of expenditure within 30 days of declaration of results. The campaign period was reduced by the Election Commission from 21 to 14 days for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to trim down election expenditure.
\/
Moreover, Election Commission takes details of the candidate’s assets on affidavit at the time of submitting nomination paper.
