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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.