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12/27/2014 AntiDefection law | Erewise data:text/html;charset=utf8,%3Ch1%20itemprop%3D%22name%22%20style%3D%22outline%3A%200px%3B%20margin%3A%200px%200px%2010px… 1/3 13 AntiDefection law 20Jan2014 Comments (0) Introduction Defection simply by dictionary meaning means withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility. In relation to politics, defection means withdrawing one’s loyalty towards his own political pa & accepting other party’s membership. Defection was very common in 1980’s and 1990’s and hence the A Defection law was enacted in 1985 so as to maintain the political stability. What is AntiDefection Law? AntiDefection is the law by which the persons who do defection are punished according to the rules of law. A person so found doing defection is disqualified to be a member of Parliament or state legislature (as case may be). Some points to remember about AntiDefection Law AntiDefection Law created by 52nd Amendment Act, 1985. It changed four articles in the constitution & added tenth schedule to the constitution. By 91st Amendment Act, 2003, a provision was omitted in the law. It omitted an exception provision i.e. disqualification on ground of defection not to apply in case of split. Note on the AntiDefection Law Under the tenth schedule following provision are given for the disqualification of members of parliament an state legislature on the ground of defection:

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  • 12/27/2014 AntiDefectionlaw|Erewise

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    AntiDefectionlaw20Jan2014 Comments(0)

    IntroductionDefectionsimplybydictionarymeaningmeanswithdrawingsupportorhelpdespiteallegianceorresponsibility.Inrelationtopolitics,defectionmeanswithdrawingonesloyaltytowardshisownpoliticalparty&acceptingotherpartysmembership.Defectionwasverycommonin1980sand1990sandhencetheAntiDefectionlawwasenactedin1985soastomaintainthepoliticalstability.WhatisAntiDefectionLaw?

    AntiDefectionisthelawbywhichthepersonswhododefectionarepunishedaccordingtotherulesofthelaw.ApersonsofounddoingdefectionisdisqualifiedtobeamemberofParliamentorstatelegislature(asthecasemaybe).

    SomepointstorememberaboutAntiDefectionLawAntiDefectionLawcreatedby52ndAmendmentAct,1985.Itchangedfourarticlesintheconstitution&addedtenthscheduletotheconstitution.By91stAmendmentAct,2003,aprovisionwasomittedinthelaw.Itomittedanexceptionprovisioni.e.disqualificationongroundofdefectionnottoapplyincaseofsplit.

    NoteontheAntiDefectionLawUnderthetenthschedulefollowingprovisionaregivenforthedisqualificationofmembersofparliamentandstatelegislatureonthegroundofdefection:

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    1.PowerofthePresidingofficerThepresidingofficercanmakerulestogiveeffecttotheprovisionofthetenthschedule,allsuchrulesmustbeplacedinhousebeforethe30days.Themembersofhousemayapproveormodifyordisapproveit.Thepresidingofficercanresorttodefectiononlyifanymemberofhousegivesacomplaintagainstit(bynewSupremeCourtDecisionAnypersonwhoisnoteventhememberofthehousecancomplainttothePresidingofficeraboutthedefection).Presidingofficerhastogiveachancetotheaccusedpersontoputhissideinfrontofthehousebeforetakingthefinaldecision.

    2.Disqualification:A.ForaPoliticalpartymemberApersonisdisqualifiedofbeingamemberofthehouseif

    Thatmembervotesordoesntgivevotewhichiscontrarytohispoliticalpartysdecision.Priorpermissionofthepartyisneededinsuchacase.Thatmembergivesuphismembershipofthepoliticalpartyonhisowni.e.byselfdecision.

    Inshort,amemberofapoliticalpartyhastoobeyallthedirectionsgivenbytheparty.B.ForanindependentmemberAnindependentmemberisdisqualifiedtobeamemberofthehouseifhejoinsanypoliticalpartyaftertheelections.Thisprovisionhasbeenputbecauseanindependentmemberwinselectiononhisown&notbecauseofanypoliticalparty.Joiningapartyamountstocorruption&thatiswhysuchaprovisionhasbeenput.C.ForanominatedmemberNominatedmembersofthehouseareallowedtojoinanypoliticalpartywhichtheywishfor.Buttheyhavetodothisinadefinitetimeframe.Theyneedtojoinapoliticalparty(iftheywish)withinaperiodofsixmonthsfromthedateofjoiningofanyofthehouse.Iftheyjoinanypoliticalpartyaftersixmonthsfromthedateofjoiningthehouse,theyaredisqualifiedtobeamemberofthathouse.3.SomeExceptionstothelawDisqualificationbecauseofdefectiondoesnotapplyinthefollowingtwocases:

    Ifanymemberofthehouseresignsfromhispoliticalpartybecauseofthereasonthathispoliticalpartyhasgotmergedwithsomeanotherpoliticalparty.(Mergertakesplaceiftwothirdmembersofthepoliticalpartyinquestionarereadyforsuchamerger)Ifanymemberofhouseresignsfromhispoliticalpartybecauseofthereasonthatsuchamemberhasbeenelectedasthepresidingofficerofthathouse.(PresidingofficerofLokSabhaSpeaker,DeputySpeaker.PresidingofficerofRajyaSabhaViceChairman.ChairmanisnotincludedinthiscaseasheistheVicePresidentofIndia.)

    4.DecisionmakingauthorityAllthedecisionsinregardtodefectionunderthetenthscheduleisdecidedbythepresidingofficerofthehouse(IncaseofLokSabhaSpeaker/DeputySpeaker.IncaseofRajyaSabhaChairman/ViceChairman)Initiallythedecisionofthepresidingofficerwasconsideredasfinal&wasnotallowedtobequestionedinthecourtoflaw.ButSupremeCourtinKihotoHollohanCase(1993)ruledthatthewayinwhichthepresidingofficerfunctionundertenthscheduleislikeatribunal.Hence,unlikeallothertribunals,thedecisionofthepresidingofficerissubjecttoreview.Inshort,SupremeCourtdeclaredtheprovisionofpresidingofficers

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    decisionasfinalasconstitutionallyinvalid&asittakesawaythepowerofSupremeCourt&HighCourt.

    USESOFTHEACTdiscourageandpreventpoliticaldefections.Itstabilizesthepoliticalparties.ItsmainintensionistostrengthentheIndianparliamentarydemocracybycurbingunprincipledandunethicalpoliticaldefection.

    ADVANTAGESItreducesthepoliticalcorruption.Itgivesthegreaterstabilityinpoliticalbodiesbyavoidingthemovingfromonepoliticalpartytoanother.Itgivesconstitutionalrecognitiontotheexistencesofpoliticalparties.

    CRITICISMVestingallthedecisionmakingpoweronsuchanimportantmatterofi.e.defectioninthepresidingofficeriscriticizedontwogrounds:1.Presidingofficermaynotactinanimpartialmannerashealsobelongstooneortheotherparty.2.Presidingofficerlacksthelegalknowledgeandexperiencetogivedecisionsonsuchcases.

    DefectionVs.Dissent:Nodifferencehasbeenputaboutthesetwoterms.Dissentmeansusingoneownsopinionincaseofvotingonsometopicinthehouse.AccordingtoAntiDefectionlaw,amemberhastofollowhispartysdecision&hecantusehisownopinionwhilecastingavote.Inshort,thislawmakesthepoliticalpartytheboss&hencethehighcommandcultureflourishes.NominatedVs.Independent:Thislawisbiasedagainstnominated&independentmembersofthehouse.Anynominatedmemberisallowedtojoinanypoliticalpartywhileanindependentmemberisnotallowedtojoinanypoliticalparty.IndividualVs.GroupDefection:Thislawworksonlyinthecaseofindividualdefection.Ifagroupinanypoliticalpartydefects,thenthislawcantbeappliedinthatcase.Thislawdoesnotprovideforexpulsionofalegislatorfromhispartyforhisactivitiesoutsidethelegislature.

    Amendment91stAmendmentActof2003broughtaboutsomechangeswhichhelpedtolimitthesizeoftheCouncilofMinisters,sothatdefectors(personsfoundunderdefection)cantholdanypublicoffice.

    ForCenter:Thetotalnumberofministers,includingthePrimeMinister,intheCentralCouncilofMinistersshallnotexceed15%ofthetotalstrengthoftheLokSabha.ForState:TheTotalnumberofministers,includingtheChiefMinister,intheCouncilofMinistersinastateshallnotexceed15%ofthetotalstrengthoftheLegislativeAssemblyofthestate.Butthenumberofministers,includingtheChiefMinister,inastateshallnotbelessthan12.Adefectorcantbeappointedasaminister.(itappliesinthecaseofcentralaswellasstatelegislature.Adefector(incentralorstatelegislature)cantholdanyremunerativepoliticalpost.Theprovisionofthetenthschedule(antidefectionlaw)pertainingtoexemptionfromdisqualificationincaseofsplitbyonethirdmembersofthelegislaturepartyhasbeendeleted.Itmeansthatthedefectorshavenomoreprotectionongroundsofsplits.