Article 324 of Indian Constitution provides for Election Commission of India with mandate of free and fair election. Discuss the role of ECI in free and fair election.

Article 324 of Indian Constitution provides for Election Commission of India with mandate of free and fair election Role of ECI in free and fair election: A) Preparation of election roll without discrimination (Article 325) B) Registration of political parties along with recognition as national or state party on basis of their performance C) Model Code of Conduct to check corrupt practices D) Ensures fair measures of nomination, campaigning and booth-system by participants E) Check corrupt practices and disqualifies participants (section 8 of RPA, 1951) F) Inclusion of technologies like VVPAT for better transparency Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commission Act, 2023 - Provides for search and selection committee for CEC and EC Impact on independence: (1) Search Committee: Comprise impact of Secretary, thus chances of obtuse in search (2) Selection Committee: by LoP, Cabinet minister with in favour of ruling party

Salary and tenure: by Central government, thus impacts independence Eligibility Criteria: needs to be of stank of Secretary, thus created chances for selection from narrow subset Way Ahead: (1) In Anoop Baranwal case, SC added CJI as member of selection committee to ensure independence (2) Salary needs to outside of influence of Centre to reduce cases of interjenne (3) Eligibility criteria needs to be broadened This will ensure free and fair election by ECI upon constitutional mandate.

— Mansi Singh · AIR 126