Page 97 - Leap of Faith inside pages with cover (1)

Chapter 4

ECI Asserts its

Authority

n September 26, 1980 S.L. Shakdher, the then Bihar and a few other states, at least since the Second
Chief Election Commissioner of India, made a General Elections (1957). However, the malpractice
Ostrong pitch for electoral reforms while appeared to have gained ground across various states
addressing a public meeting organised by the Voters' during the 1970s, which led to the Election Commission to
Council and Citizens for Democracy in New Delhi. He explore various remedies. In 1989, amendments to the
elaborated on a number of issues such as introducing Representation of the People Act, 1951 – vide Sections 58
A and 135 A- were enacted to make booth capturing an
Voters' identity card, launching Electronic Voting
electoral offence. However, the situation did not improve
Machine (EVM), enhancement of security deposit,
as the Committee on Electoral Reforms chaired by the
raising of bar against its forfeiture to one-fourth of votes
then Law Minister Dinesh Goswami (1990) observed.
polled, creating a corpus for state funding of elections,
bringing expenditure incurred by political parties into The Year 1990 commenced on an op mis c note, with
ambit of ceiling of election expenses, and empowering regard to electoral reforms. On January 9, 1990 a mee ng
the Election Commission to examine the election on the subject of electoral reforms was convened in New
accounts while heightening the permissible election Delhi under the Chairmanship of the then Prime Minister.
Members of Parliament, delegated by respec ve poli cal
expense ceiling to more realistic levels.
par es, par cipated in it. A thorough discussion led to
S.L. Shakdher flagged the issue of "booth capturing", and iden fica on of at least 14 core themes.
offered a solution, which was vindicated in the long run.
A mul -member commi ee headed by Dinesh Goswami,
The key to deal with fraudulent voting was introduction of
the Law Minister, and comprising mostly MPs and ex-MPs
"identity-cum-photograph card and electronic vote
from various poli cal par es was cons tuted. The
recording machine".
Commi ee met on seven occasions between February 3
The menace of "booth capturing", to believe his and April 11, 1990; and concluded its work by May 4,
predecessor S.P. Sen-Varma (1972), had been prevalent in 1990 when the dra of its report was approved.

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