What is Article 324?
Article 324 provides that – the superintendence, direction, control of preparation of electoral rolls, conduct of all the elections to the Parliament, to the State Legislative Assemblies, to the President & Vice-President will be vested in the Election Commission. It also provides that the Election Commission will comprise of – The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners as the President will decide from time to time.
Article 324 also insulates the protective measures on the independence of the election commission, according to which, the tenure of office of the Election Commissioners are protected. For Ex: The Chief Election Commissioner’s tenure is protected to the extent that – he shall continue to perform his duties and shall not be removed from his office, same in the manner as that of the Judge of a Supreme Court of India. As far as the other Election Commissioners are concerned, they can not be removed from the office, except on the recommendation made by the Chief Election Commissioner.
Powers and Functions of Election Commission of India
Powers and Functions of Election Commission of India: The Election Commission of India carries out the duties of holding free and fair elections throughout the nation at both the federal and state levels. It is an independent constitutional organization that regulates elections for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, elections for state legislative assemblies, the election of the President and Vice President, and other national and local elections. The laws and regulations governing elections as well as the autonomous operation of the Indian Election Commission are governed under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.