{"id":89551,"date":"2026-02-24T11:26:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=89551"},"modified":"2026-02-24T11:26:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:56:42","slug":"election-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/election-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Independence of the Election Commission \u2013 Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Election Commission Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Independence of the Election Commission has come under debate following allegations of irregularities in electoral roll revisions and a proposed motion to remove the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Importance of Free and Fair Elections<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free and fair elections form part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution, as recognised by the Supreme Court in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narain (1975)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adult franchise under Article 326 guarantees the right to vote to every citizen above 18 years of age, subject to reasonable restrictions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent controversies have revolved around alleged \u201cvote theft\u201d and manipulation of electoral rolls during the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/special-intensive-revision\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Special Intensive Revision<\/b><\/a><b> (SIR) exercise<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It has been claimed that lakhs of names were deleted from voter lists in certain States, raising concerns about procedural fairness and the sanctity of electoral democracy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any perceived dilution in the electoral process directly impacts public trust in democratic institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Constitutional Status of the Election Commission<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 324 of the Constitution provides for a permanent <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/election-commission-of-india-eci\/\" target=\"_blank\">Election Commission of India<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (ECI) with powers of superintendence, direction, and control over elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This constitutional status ensures:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Institutional permanence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autonomy from routine executive interference<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wide discretionary powers in conducting elections<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Election Commission may consist of a Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners. Since 1993, it has functioned as a multi-member body, a structure upheld by the Supreme Court in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">T.N. Seshan vs. Union of India (1995)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CEC acts as the Chairperson of the Commission, and decisions are generally taken collectively.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Appointment of the Election Commissioners<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The appointment process became controversial after the enactment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Office and Terms of Office) Act, 2023.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the 2023 Act:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CEC and Election Commissioners are appointed by the President.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Selection Committee comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition recommends names.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Critics argue that the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the Selection Committee weakens institutional independence.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This change followed the Supreme Court\u2019s 2023 judgment in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anoop Baranwal vs. Union of India<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which had temporarily mandated the inclusion of the CJI in the selection panel until Parliament enacted a law.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The validity of the 2023 Act is currently under judicial scrutiny.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Safeguards for Independence<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution incorporates strong safeguards to protect the Election Commission from executive pressure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Removal of the CEC<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 324(5) provides that the CEC can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge under Article 124(4). The grounds are:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proved misbehaviour, Incapacity<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The removal process is rigorous and quasi-judicial:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A motion must be signed by at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Speaker or Chairman may admit the motion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A three-member inquiry committee is constituted, comprising:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Supreme Court judge<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Chief Justice of a High Court<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A distinguished jurist<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CEC is given the opportunity to defend themselves, ensuring adherence to principles of natural justice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both Houses of Parliament must pass the motion by a special majority.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Removal of Other Election Commissioners<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other Election Commissioners can be removed by the President on the recommendation of the CEC. However, the Supreme Court in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vineet Narain vs. Union of India (1997)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> clarified that such advice should not be arbitrary.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These mechanisms create a balance between executive oversight and institutional independence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Special Intensive Revision and Electoral Concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recent controversy relates to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Allegations include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large-scale deletion of names from voter lists<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Targeting of specific demographic groups<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rushed revision processes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since electoral rolls form the foundation of democratic participation, any irregularity in revision exercises can undermine public confidence.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Challenges to such revisions have reached the Supreme Court.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The issue highlights the delicate balance between administrative efficiency and constitutional guarantees of universal adult suffrage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/on-the-independence-of-the-election-commission\/article70666857.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Independence of the Election Commission remains central to free and fair elections, amid debates over voter roll revisions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":89573,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[2218,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-89551","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-election-commission","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89551"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89579,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89551\/revisions\/89579"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}