Page 252 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

points completely, and three par ally. It was a conven on
with Elec on Commission to propose the electoral reforms
in the narra ve reports of the general elec ons. Though
later this conven on was discon nued, the Elec on
Commission con nues to pitch for electoral reforms in its
official communica ons to the Legisla ve Department,
Ministry of Law and Jus ce. An incumbent Chief Elec on
Commissioner might write to the Union Law Minister on
more urgent and fundamental issues that affect the
freedom, integrity and purity of the elec ons.
Physically disturbing the elec ons have become well
neigh impossible with implementa on of progressive Documents published by Election Commission of India
measures like EVM-VVPAT, statutory recogni on to
Observers, legal powers to countermand elec ons on g) Core Commi ee on Electoral Reforms (2010)
co-sponsored by ECI
grounds of booth capturing, electronic surveillance, th
h) Law Commission's 244 Report on Electoral
videography of cri cal events and mobile apps to report
Disqualifica on (2014)
viola on of Model Code of Conduct. The challenge area th
for enforcement has narrowed down to curbing money I) Law Commission's 255 Report on Electoral
power, checking paid news, and regula ng social media Reforms (2015)
behavior when Model Code of Conduct is in opera on.
These have the poten al to perturb the level playing On September 16, 2022 the Chief Election Commissioner
field, if they go unchecked. Rajiv Kumar wrote to the then Union Minister of Law and
Justice Kiren Rijiju arguing for the need to amend Section 29 C
Over the last three decades several high powered
of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to reduce the
commi ees have also been set up the Government of India
limit of contribution in cash to political parties to INR 2,000
to consider the subject of electoral reforms. These included- (from the current limit of INR 20,000) to bring it at par with
a) Dinesh Goswami Commi ee on Electoral Reforms Section 13A of Income Tax Act, 1961. A corresponding
(1990) change in Form 24A was advocated to reduce the threshold of
reporting by a political party from INR 20,000 to INR 2,000.
b) N.N. Vohra Commi ee Report on Criminalisa on of
e letter further sought changes in Section 29 B of the RP Act,
Poli cs (1993)
1951 (relating to donation) in view of the fact that Foreign
c) Indrajit Gupta Commi ee on State Funding of Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1978 and the Companies Act,
Elec ons (1998) 1958 have been repealed and replaced by Foreign Contribution
th
d) Law Commission's 170 Report on Reform of (Regulation) Act, 2010 and Companies Act, 2013 respectively.
Electoral Laws (1999) e amendment of 24A of the Conduct of Election Rules,
1961 was also urged to reflect the proposed changes. ese
e) Na onal Commission to Review the Working of the
amendments are necessary both to prevent black money
Cons tu on (2001)
generation and use of illicit money in the elections.
f) The Second Administra ve Reforms Commission (2008)

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