changes proposed in election system in india

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

[email protected]

99162 98421
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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


3/19

Are we making

the right

progress as a

nation?


4/19

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.


5/19

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.jpg


6/19

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: -


7/19

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


8/19

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.


9/19

Criminalization

Trends fromKarnataka elections

2004 and 2008

It is still unfortunate that we end up

electing candidates who have serious

cases pending against them


10/19

Organizations working towards better

democracy

GRAAM

And many individuals working on various initiatives


11/19

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


12/19


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


13/19


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


14/19

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


15/19

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


16/19

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


17/19

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.


18/19

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

https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0412/5aceca9381ee6/5acecaa05d301.jpg http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indian-parliament-at-60-years-facts--statistics/257794-3.html

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

http://reasonsoflife.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/indian-flag-12.gif
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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

changes proposed in election system in india

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