Archive · 7 Dec 2025
Call to Amend Election Law for Independent ECI
The article discusses the need for an independent Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure free and fair elections.
It highlights that the ECI's authority comes from Article 324 of the Constitution.
The ECI was originally a single-member body but was expanded to three members in 1989.
The article praises T.N. Seshan, a former CEC, for his rigorous enforcement of electoral rules.
It criticizes the current appointment process of election commissioners, which gives the ruling party an advantage.
The article also mentions instances where the ECI did not enforce the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) strictly, such as during the recent Bihar elections.
The author argues that legal reforms are needed to ensure the ECI's independence and the credibility of elections.
ECI's authority derives from Article 324 of the Constitution.
ECI was expanded from a single-member to a three-member body in 1989.
T.N. Seshan is praised for rigorously enforcing electoral rules.
Current ECI appointment process criticized for favoring the ruling party.
ECI's enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been inconsistent.
- Who
- Pavan K. Varma, Election Commission of India (ECI)
- What
- Call to amend election laws to ensure ECI independence
- When
- Ongoing controversy over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise
- Where
- India
- Why
- To defend democracy and ensure free and fair elections
- Article 324
- Constitutional provision granting ECI authority over elections
- ECI Structure
- Originally single-member, expanded to three-member body in 1989
- T.N. Seshan
- CEC known for rigorous enforcement of electoral rules
- Supreme Court Proposal (2023)
- Suggested CJI inclusion in ECI appointment process
- Government Act (2023)
- Replaced CJI with Cabinet member in ECI appointment process
- EC Ashok Lavasa
- Resigned after alleged pressure for dissenting views
- Bihar Elections (2024)
- ECI criticized for not enforcing MCC strictly