Election Commission of India

Election Commission of India
source
Name	Election Commission of India
Native name	भारत निर्वाचन आयोग
Formed	25 January 1950
Headquarters	Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi
Chief1 name	Rajiv Kumar
Chief1 position	Chief Election Commissioner
Chief2 name	Gyanesh Kumar
Chief2 position	Election Commissioner
Chief3 name	Sukhbir Singh Sandhu
Chief3 position	Election Commissioner
Parent agency	Government of India
Website	https://eci.gov.in

Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering electoral processes in the world's largest democracy. Established on 25 January 1950, a day before India became a republic, it operates under the authority of Article 324 and is vested with superintendence, direction, and control over the conduct of elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the President of India and Vice President of India. The commission has been instrumental in conducting free and fair elections at regular intervals, thereby strengthening the foundations of Indian democracy.

History

The commission was constituted in 1950 with Sukumar Sen as the first Chief Election Commissioner of India. Its initial and monumental task was overseeing the 1951–52 Indian general election, the first national democratic exercise of its scale post-independence. Over the decades, it has evolved from a single-member body to a multi-member commission, a change first implemented in 1989 and later made permanent through the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991. Landmark events in its history include the introduction of the Model Code of Conduct in the 1960s and the pioneering use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the 1998 parliamentary by-election in Kerala.

Structure and composition

Originally a single-member body, the commission currently consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners, appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers. They enjoy a tenure of six years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier, and have conditions of service and removal parity with a judge of the Supreme Court of India to ensure independence. The commission is supported by a secretariat headed by the Secretary General and operates through a decentralized structure involving Chief Electoral Officers in each state and District Election Officers at the local level.

Powers and functions

The commission's powers are plenary, derived directly from Article 324. Its primary functions include delimitation of constituencies, preparation and periodic revision of electoral rolls, recognition of political parties and allotment of election symbols, and the scheduling and conduct of all elections. It enforces the Model Code of Conduct, monitors election expenditure, and has the authority to cancel polls in cases of booth capturing or other malpractices. The commission also advises the President of India and Governors on matters relating to the disqualification of members of legislatures under the anti-defection law.

Electoral process and reforms

The commission administers a complex electoral process involving millions of voters, polling personnel, and security forces. Key reforms pioneered by it include the gradual nationwide introduction of EVMs, later supplemented by Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems. It has implemented rigorous photo voter identity measures and launched initiatives like the National Voters' Day to enhance electoral participation. The commission also oversees the use of the Electronics Corporation of India and Bharat Electronics Limited for manufacturing voting machines and has been proactive in implementing the recommendations of various committees, such as the Dinesh Goswami Committee.

Major decisions and controversies

The commission has made several consequential decisions, such as disqualifying Indira Gandhi in 1975 for electoral malpractices and, more recently, ordering the re-poll in the 2019 general election constituency of Vellore due to excessive cash seizures. It has faced controversies and legal challenges, notably regarding the reliability of EVMs and allegations of executive interference in appointments. Its decisions on enforcing the Model Code of Conduct, such as those during the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha campaigns, have often been subjects of intense political debate and scrutiny by the Supreme Court of India.

Category:Government agencies of India Category:Election commissions Category:1950 establishments in India