Multi-member Election Commission
Topic: Elections and the Electoral System · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 3 "Election and Representation"
Meaning
A multi-member Election Commission is one made up of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and one or more Election Commissioners, instead of the CEC alone. Article 324 allows this, and the President fixes the number of Election Commissioners. All members have an equal say and decide by majority, so no single person controls elections. The Supreme Court upheld this arrangement in T.N. Seshan v. Union of India (1995).
Example
The ECI was single-member until October 1989. Two Election Commissioners were then added, but the posts were abolished in January 1990. Since October 1993 the ECI has again had three members: one CEC and two Election Commissioners.
Don't confuse with
- State Election Commission: a separate body for each state under Articles 243K and 243ZA. It runs panchayat and municipal elections and is independent of the ECI.
Related concepts
- Election Commission of India
- Chief Election Commissioner
- Election Commissioners
- T.N. Seshan case
- Anoop Baranwal case
- Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act 2023