Election Commission of India: Role, Reforms and Legal Challenges
- NLR Journal
- Mar 15
- 1 min read
By Kareti Pranaswi, VIT-AP School of Law, VIT-AP University, Amaravati.
Abstract
India's Election Commission of India (ECI), as per the Article 324 of Indian Constitution, is the mainstay of any democratic electoral system and hence articles are collectively dedicated towards ensuring free and fair elections. The ECI, although extremely crucial in nature has numerous legal and institutional difficulties from appointment political backed, financial dependence on the executive or impotent enforcement. All of those threaten its independence and cannot be telling the truth in Indian electoral process. Recent measures like the Supreme Court verdict Anoop Baranwal v Union of India (2023) were taken to address this through mandate of collegium-based appointments. But even the way voters' votes can be ensured transparency, accountability and sixth sense technology in elections are gap areas. This article critically analyzes the legal charter of ECI, problem areas and comprehensive reforms (strengthening the autonomy of institutions enhancing electoral funding transparency to use advanced techniques or blockchain in an inexpensive secure vote). It does what to address these questions will be an important contribution to the ongoing debate on electoral governance and strengthen the role of ECI as arbiter of Indian democracy.
Keywords: Election Commission of India, Electoral Reforms, Judicial Interventions, Electoral Transparency, Blockchain Voting
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