CONSTITUTIONAL BODY
The constitution of India has entrusted the Election Commission of India to superintendence, analysis and control the entire process of conducting the elections of the Parliament and the Legislature of each State and the posts of the President and Vice-President of India. The Election Commission of India is a permanent constitutional body. According to the constitution, the Election Commission was established on 25th January 1950. The Indian Election Commission is an autonomous and semi-judicial institution. Initially, there were only one Chief Election Commissioner in the Commission. Currently the commission has a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. For the first time on October 16, 1989 two additional commissioners were appointed, but their tenure was very low, which lasted till January 01, 1990.
MULTI-MEMBER CONCEPT
Thereafter, two additional election commissioners were appointed on 01 October 1993. Since then, the multi-member concept of the Commission is in vogue, in which the decision is taken on a majority basis. Indian Election Commission is an autonomous and semi-judicial institution.
CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER
Chief Election Commissioner of India is the head of the Election Commission of India. He is responsible for conducting independent and fair election.
APPOINTMENT, TERM, SALARY AND REMOVAL
The President of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner. The term of the Chief Election Commissioner is of 6 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier. Salary of the Election Commissioner is similar to the Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only by the Parliament through impeachment.
SECRETARIAT
The Commission has a separate secretariat in New Delhi, in which about 300 officers / employees work to carry out the functioning of the commission.
BUDGET AND EXPENDITURE
The Commission Secretariat has its own independent budget which is finalized by the advice of the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Finance generally accepts its recommendations for the budget of the Commission. However, the main expenditure on the actual operation of the elections, related constituencies of Union Territories and Union Territory Areas are reflected in the budget of the units. If elections are made only for the Lok Sabha, the expenditure is borne by the Union Government as a whole, whereas only the State Expenditure is to be borne by the concerned State for elections. In the event of the election of Parliamentary and State Legislative Assembly, the expenditure is shared equally between the Center and the State Government. Expenditure on preparation of capital equipment, expenditure on electoral rolls and expenditure on identification of election candidates is also shared equally.
STATE ELECTION
Superintendence of election work at the state level is subjected to the overall supervision, analysis and control of the Commission by the Chief Election Officer of the State. The appointment of these Chief Electoral Officers is done by the Commission from amongst senior officers of the seniority proposed by the concerned State Government. In most of the states, he is a full time officer and he has a team of assistant staff.
At district and constituency levels, there are District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers, who are assisted by a large number of junior Officers and they perform Election work.
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CONSTITUTIONAL BODY
The constitution of India has entrusted the Election Commission of India to superintendence, analysis and control the entire process of conducting the elections of the Parliament and the Legislature of each State and the posts of the President and Vice-President of India. The Election Commission of India is a permanent constitutional body. According to the constitution, the Election Commission was established on 25th January 1950. The Indian Election Commission is an autonomous and semi-judicial institution. Initially, there were only one Chief Election Commissioner in the Commission. Currently the commission has a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. For the first time on October 16, 1989 two additional commissioners were appointed, but their tenure was very low, which lasted till January 01, 1990.
MULTI-MEMBER CONCEPT
Thereafter, two additional election commissioners were appointed on 01 October 1993. Since then, the multi-member concept of the Commission is in vogue, in which the decision is taken on a majority basis. Indian Election Commission is an autonomous and semi-judicial institution.
CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER
Chief Election Commissioner of India is the head of the Election Commission of India. He is responsible for conducting independent and fair election.
APPOINTMENT, TERM, SALARY AND REMOVAL
The President of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner. The term of the Chief Election Commissioner is of 6 years or 65 years, whichever is earlier. Salary of the Election Commissioner is similar to the Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only by the Parliament through impeachment.
SECRETARIAT
The Commission has a separate secretariat in New Delhi, in which about 300 officers / employees work to carry out the functioning of the commission.
BUDGET AND EXPENDITURE
The Commission Secretariat has its own independent budget which is finalized by the advice of the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Finance generally accepts its recommendations for the budget of the Commission. However, the main expenditure on the actual operation of the elections, related constituencies of Union Territories and Union Territory Areas are reflected in the budget of the units. If elections are made only for the Lok Sabha, the expenditure is borne by the Union Government as a whole, whereas only the State Expenditure is to be borne by the concerned State for elections. In the event of the election of Parliamentary and State Legislative Assembly, the expenditure is shared equally between the Center and the State Government. Expenditure on preparation of capital equipment, expenditure on electoral rolls and expenditure on identification of election candidates is also shared equally.
STATE ELECTION
Superintendence of election work at the state level is subjected to the overall supervision, analysis and control of the Commission by the Chief Election Officer of the State. The appointment of these Chief Electoral Officers is done by the Commission from amongst senior officers of the seniority proposed by the concerned State Government. In most of the states, he is a full time officer and he has a team of assistant staff.
At district and constituency levels, there are District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers, who are assisted by a large number of junior Officers and they perform Election work.