Congress Warns EC: Retroactive Laws and Electoral Action Concerns

1. Consider the following statements regarding the Election Commission of India (ECI): 1. The ECI is a multi-member body consisting of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. 2. The conditions of service and tenure of the Election Commissioners are determined by the President. 3. The ECI has the power to adjudicate disputes relating to the disqualification of sitting members of Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• A.1 and 2 only
• B.2 and 3 only
• C.1 and 3 only
• D.1, 2 and 3

2. In the context of electoral laws and potential retroactive application, which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the power of the Parliament to legislate on electoral matters?

• A.Parliament can only legislate on electoral matters prospectively and cannot enact retroactive laws affecting past elections.
• B.Parliament has the power to legislate on electoral matters, including enacting retroactive laws, subject to judicial review based on fundamental rights and constitutional principles.
• C.Parliament's power to legislate on electoral matters is limited to the specific provisions outlined in the Constitution and cannot be expanded through legislation.
• D.The Election Commission has exclusive authority to legislate on electoral matters, and Parliament's role is limited to providing budgetary support.

3. Which of the following scenarios would raise the most significant concerns regarding the fairness and integrity of the electoral process, as highlighted by the Congress party's warning to the Election Commission?

• A.The Election Commission implementing new voter registration procedures six months before an election.
• B.The government enacting a law with retrospective effect that disqualifies candidates based on criteria not in place during the election period.
• C.Political parties increasing their campaign spending within the limits prescribed by the Election Commission.
• D.The Election Commission using technology to improve the efficiency of vote counting.

4. Assertion (A): Retroactive laws affecting electoral processes can undermine the principles of free and fair elections. Reason (R): Such laws may disproportionately impact certain candidates or parties, creating an uneven playing field after the electoral process has commenced. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?

• A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C.A is true, but R is false.
• D.A is false, but R is true.