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7/29/2019 Changes proposed in Election System In India
1/19
Changes proposed in ElectionSystem In India
At: National Level Seminar on Election Reforms in IndiaVivekananda Law College, Puttur, Karnataka
By: Sridhar Pabbisetty
99162 98421
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]7/29/2019 Changes proposed in Election System In India
2/19
Let us celebrate what is good
5, 1%
61, 7%
309, 38%
396, 48%
53, 6%
50-60
60-70
70-80
80-90
90-100
India is the worlds youngest democracy.
Today, 54 percent of Indias population is
below the age of 25. Over seven out of 10
Indians are below the age of 35.
But do we have worlds youngest
representatives? Let us look at lok sabha
14% below 40
7% above 70
11% of MPs are women
Voter Turn Out in all assembly elections
held in 2011
Worlds Largest Democracy
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Are we making
the right
progress as a
nation?
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Preamble of Indian Constitution
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved toconstitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULARDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY, of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and theunity and integrity of the Nation;
..DO HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THISCONSTITUTION.
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Some age old wisdom
All the wealth of the
world cannot help one
little village if the
people are not taught tohelp themselves
http://blog.ileezhun.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Swami_Vivekananda.jpg7/29/2019 Changes proposed in Election System In India
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Money Power
If a candidate is willing to spend ten
times more than the prescribed
ceiling, it is not out of
philanthropy, but in the secure
knowledge that he can earn ten
times what he spends once he
gets to the seat of power
- Chief Election Commissioner of
India commenting on Karnataka
Assembly Elections 2008
Low (< Rs.0.5
cr)
Medium (Rs.
0.5 to Rs.3 Cr)
High (Rs.3 to
Rs. 20 cr)
Very High (>
Rs.20 cr)
6.5% 26.4% 35.5% 51.7%
Assets of candidate and percentage of winners
in 2008 Karnataka Elections: -
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Election Financing
Tends to drive campaign expenditureunderground and foster a reliance onunaccounted funds or black money
Economic liberalization has not ended thegovernments discretionary powers over resourceallocation in numerous domains.
Flawed political party funding and electionexpenditure laws drive parties and politicians tomisuse the governments discretionary powersover resource allocation to raise funds forelection campaigns and political parties.
ebookbrowse.com/gowda-sridharan-elj-paper-reforming-india-s-party-pdf-
d421954247
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Impacts for current system
Expenditure ceilings appear to invite evasion.
Absence of public funding means that parties and candidates must raiseand spend money on their own for each election. The combined effect ofthe ban on corporate donations in 1969 without an adequate legal sourceof funds.
The lack of any effective system of internal democracy, transparency, andaccountability within parties reinforces corrupt fund-raising and the lackof financial accountability.
The Companies Acts limit on corporate political contributions to parties(5% of average net profit over the past three years) may worsen theproblem with corruption, despite the 2003 laws introduction of taxdeductibility of political donations.
Under the current system, party leadership has no incentive to raise fundsthrough large numbers of small-sum donations, given the large sumsneeded and the high transaction costs involved in raising many smallcontributions.
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Criminalization
Trends fromKarnataka elections
2004 and 2008
It is still unfortunate that we end up
electing candidates who have serious
cases pending against them
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Organizations working towards better
democracy
GRAAM
And many individuals working on various initiatives
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Recommendations for Electoral
Reforms Remove criminals from politics
after charges have been framed by Court of Law of offencespunishable for two years or more
any candidate charged with serious charges like murder, attemptto murder, rape, kidnapping, extortion, etc.
Declaration of sources of income by candidates
Implement a multi-party system for appointments of theCEC and SEC (PM, Opposition, CJ, Speaker of LS, DeputyChairperson of RS
Implement ceiling on centralized expenses of politicalparties during election period
The requirement for winning election should be 50% + 1 ofthe registered votes cast
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Recommendations for Electoral
Reforms contd...
Provide None of the Above (NOTA) option inthe EVMs and if the highest number of voters arepolled for NOTA then the following steps shouldbe taken: No candidates should be declared as elected Fresh election should be conducted, in which none of
the earlier candidates should be allowed to contest
Reduce the time provided for filing election
expenses need for amendments to sections 78, 81 and 84 of the
R.P. Act, 1951 from 30 to 20 so that petitions can befiled in 25 instead of 15 days
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Recommendations for Electoral
Reforms contd... Action against candidates who fail to file their election expenses
Legal sanction for the filing election petition against candidates wholose elections in terms of section 123 of the R.P. Act, 1951
Strict penalties against those involved in electoral malpractices
Electoral malpractices should be declared criminal offenses carrying asentence of two years or more.
Law against the use of excessive money in elections by candidates
Provision for verifying the declarations in the affidavits of thecandidates
Prohibition of taking other offices after retirement of The ElectionCommissioners for atleast 5 years
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Recommendations for political reforms
Introduce provisions for inner-party democracy withinpolitical parties
Bring financial transparency in the accounts of politicalparties also make them auditable by CAG appointedagencies
Regulate the registration and de-registration of politicalparties - Amendment of Sec. 29A of the R.P. Act, 1951empowering the EC
Bring in a comprehensive bill to regulate working of
political parties - inner functioning of the parties, includingelections of office bearers, selection of candidates forelections
Declare Political parties as Public Authorities
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Recommendations for political reforms
contd..
Annual report by MPs and MLAs
Affidavit information of candidates to be
certified by Political Parties
Fast tracking of cases for MLAs/MPs
A separate body to decide the salaries and
perks of elected representatives
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Recommendations for new rules by
Election Commission of India
Make public the list of polling agents in
advance
Include civil society representatives as
observers during elections
Make election expense statements of the
candidates/winners available through web
Appointment of the SEO from cadre of
another state
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Recommendations for new rules by ECI
contd.. Changes required in the affidavits:
PAN declaration of candidates should be made mandatory
There should be a column in the affidavit wherein the candidates candeclare any penalty levied on them with regard to taxes
A column asking for the source of income of candidates should be
provided in the affidavit In the assets part the candidates should not just disclose his assets
but also the assets of all his close relatives as per the Company Law.
Candidates should attach their IT returns with the affidavits filed bythem.
Elections should be announced 6 months prior to elections andthey should submit affidavits stating the expected and approximateamount to be spend in elections by them and of the source thereof.
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References
http://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reforms http://blog.ileezhun.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Swami_Vivekananda.jpg
https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0412/5aceca9381ee6/5aceca9f9fe18.jpg en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preamble_to_the_Constitution_of_India
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/4/16/1239918961110/Indian-elections-villager-001.jpg
https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0412/5aceca9381ee6/5acecaa019b2b.jpg http://www.go-nxg.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/03/17nxg_p6_7_election_gbp2dgcfb117nxg_elections2.jpg
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http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-18/india/28196750_1_congress-mp-average-age-15th-lok-sabha
http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/ElectionStatistics.aspx
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et.pdf
ebookbrowse.com/gowda-sridharan-elj-paper-reforming-india-s-party-pdf-d421954247
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Additional Reading
Available as downloads here
http://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reforms The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008)
Election Commission of India Proposed Electoral Reforms
(2004) National Commission to review the Working of the Constitution
(2001)
Law Commission Report on Reform of the Electoral Laws (1999)
A) Law Commission' draft for amendments to theRepresentation of People Act
Vohra Committee Report (1993)
Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections (1998)
Goswami Committee on Electrol Reforms (1990)
http://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reformshttp://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reformshttp://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reformshttp://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reformshttp://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reformshttp://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reformshttp://adrindia.org/resources/electoral-reforms