𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐀 (𝐄𝐂𝐈): REMOVAL

𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐀 (𝐄𝐂𝐈): 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐄𝐂 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍–𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬?

• The 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 (𝐄𝐂𝐈), comprising the 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 (𝐂𝐄𝐂) and two 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐄𝐂𝐬), filed an affidavit before the 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 regarding the functioning of the Commission.
• The affidavit stated that the 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐄𝐂 is similar to that of a 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞.
• It also clarified that media reports alleging internal friction or unilateral functioning by the CEC cannot, by themselves, be treated as valid evidence in court.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐂𝐈?

• 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟖 of the 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 deals with the conduct of business by the Commission.
• The Commission follows the principle of 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 when differences of opinion arise.
• The 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 requires the views of the members to be considered in the decision-making process.
• The affidavit also referred to concerns reportedly raised by 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐡𝐛𝐢𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐮 and 𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐤 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐢 with the Cabinet Secretary regarding an IT oversight order allegedly issued without their knowledge.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐂𝐈?

• 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟑𝟐𝟒 of the Constitution provides for the superintendence, direction and control of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.
• The ECI is an 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 responsible for conducting free and fair elections.
• The Commission consists of the 𝐂𝐄𝐂 and such other 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 as the President may determine, subject to the constitutional framework.
• Its independence is essential for 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 and public confidence.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐄𝐂 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐂𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝?

• The 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 appoints the CEC and other ECs under 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟑𝟐𝟒(𝟐), subject to applicable law.
• Their appointments are governed by the 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑.

𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞:

• 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 — Chairperson.
• 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐤 𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐚 — Member.
• 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 — Member.

– The 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐀𝐜𝐭 replaced the earlier 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟏 𝐀𝐜𝐭 and regulates appointment, service conditions and tenure.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐄𝐂 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐂𝐬 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝?

• 𝐂𝐄𝐂: The CEC can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞.
• Removal requires 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 and an address supported by a 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, followed by an order of the President.
• 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐂𝐬: They cannot be removed independently by the President except on the 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐄𝐂.
• These safeguards protect the Commission against 𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 and undue political pressure.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐂𝐈 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?

• 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Ensures impartial electoral administration.
• 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲: Reduces undue political interference.
• 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲: Strengthens public trust in election results.
• 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝: Promotes fair competition among political parties.
• 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Encourages collective and transparent decision-making.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫:

• 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Article 324.
• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: CEC and Other ECs Act, 2023.
• 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Majority rule in case of disagreement.
• 𝐂𝐄𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥: Same manner and grounds as a Supreme Court judge.
• 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐂𝐬’ 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥: Requires the CEC’s recommendation.
• 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: President of India.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:

The independence of the 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 depends on safeguards against arbitrary removal, 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 and institutional transparency. A strong and impartial ECI is essential for preserving the credibility of India’s 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬.