Previous Year Question

Under Part XV (Elections) of the Constitution, Article 324 provides for the Election Commission. It vests in the Election Commission the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.

Article 324(2) deals with the composition of the Election Commission. It provides for a Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners as may be fixed from time to time by the President.

The distinction among the other options is important for examination purposes—Article 320 deals with the functions of Public Service Commissions, Article 322 with the expenses of Public Service Commissions, and Article 326 with elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage.

It should also be noted that elections to Panchayats and Municipalities are not conducted by the Election Commission of India; the Constitution provides separately for State Election Commissions for these local-body elections. Thus, Article 324 should primarily be associated with elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.