The issue of
‘Electoral Reforms’ has been referred by the Central Government to the Law
Commission of India for consideration and for suggesting comprehensive measures
for changes in laws relating to elections. Acknowledging the importance of the
subject, the Commission has prepared a Consultation Paper eliciting feedback
from various stakeholders.
The election system comprises a
complex web of different nuances – legal, political, economic, social,
religious, ethical and moral and this complexity makes the task of suggesting
reforms quite challenging. No single
aspect of election process can be looked at in isolation from others. Most, if not all areas of these aspects, are
of the nature where law either interacts or need to interact more closely. The focus of the Consultation Paper is,
therefore, to identify those areas and aspects where law should play more
prominent and engaging role.
The Commission proposes to focus largely
on issues such as: qualifications/disqualifications of those seeking election, or disqualification
of the persons already elected; modes, methods and quantum of funding of
elections; transparency, accountability and sources of spending by political
parties and their respective candidates during elections; regulations and
ethical conduct of political parties or candidates participating in elections;
filing of false affidavits – A ground for disqualification; electronic and
print Media – impact of ‘paid news’; quantum of punishment for electoral
offences; and adjudication of election disputes etc.
The
Commission, through the Consultation Paper, has solicited views/suggestions of
political parties, states, civil society, and all other stakeholders, inter-alia,
on the aforesaid issues.
The Consultation Paper has been made
available on the website of the Law Commission of India – http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in and can
be downloaded freely.
Those desirous
of submitting comments/suggestions may send their written comments/suggestions
to the Secretary, Law Commission of India, Hindustan Times House, 14th
Floor, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110001 by E-mail: lci-dla@nic.in
or by hand/post latest by 30th June, 2013.
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