Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act 1952
Topic: Elections and the Electoral System · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act 1952 sets out the detailed rules for electing India's President and Vice-President. It covers nominations, deposits and election disputes. Under Art. 71, disputes over these elections go only to the Supreme Court. The Act's high nomination requirements keep out candidates who are not serious.
Example
A presidential candidate needs 50 proposers and 50 seconders from the electoral college. A vice-presidential candidate needs 20 of each. Each candidate must also pay a deposit of ₹15,000. Any challenge to the result is filed directly in the Supreme Court.
Don't confuse with
- Election petition under the RPA 1951: challenges to Lok Sabha and assembly results go first to the High Court, within 45 days of the result. Appeals then go to the Supreme Court.
Related concepts
- Single transferable vote
- Electoral quota
- Election of Rajya Sabha members
- Open ballot
- Kuldip Nayar case
- Shailesh Manubhai Parmar case
- Cross-voting