ALL INDIA ESSAY COMPETITION ON "DOES ELECTION COMMISSION HAVE INHERENT POWER TO BAN CORRUPT PERSONS AND CRIMINALS FROM CONTESTING ELECTIONS ?”

Nandini Voice for The Deprived is organising an All India Essay Competition on the above subject.

Objectives : The Election Commission has sought immediate implementation of electoral reforms to ban the persons with criminal background from contesting polls.(The Hindu dated 13.1.2013) . The proposal which was originally sent by

the Election commission on 15^th July, 1998 (around  14 years back) is still pending with Government of India. The Election Commission’s proposal now is to ban the persons from contesting elections , even prior to conviction, provided the court would have framed charges.

While the government of India may not act on the proposal of the .Election Commission, the question is whether the Election Commission has the INHERENT POWERS to disqualify on its own the persons even prior to conviction , provided the court would have framed charges.

There is a view that the INHERENT POWERS are not listed but can be exercised by a constitutional body like Election Commission, if it would think that exercise of the inherent powers are necessary to execute its responsibility   and duty expected of it in the context of the prevailing situation. .

The All India Essay competition is being organised to give an opportunity to citizens to express their views on the subject. The highlights of the views would be forwarded to the Election Commission for its study and necessary action.

Eligibility : Any citizen of India can participate

Size of the essay : Maximum 1500 words

Language :  Essay can be written in English or Tamil

Last date for submission : 5th March,2013

The best of five essays will be awarded prize. Essay can be sent by post or email

to the following address

Nandini Voice For The Deprived

M 60/1, 4th Cross Street, Besant Nagar,  Chennai-600090

Email:- nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com