Representation of the People Act, 1951

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The Representation of People Act, 1951
Parliament of India
Long title
  • An Act to provide for the conduct of elections of the Houses of Parliament and to the Houses of the Legislature of each State, the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of those Houses, the corrupt practices and other offences at or in connection with such elections and the decision of doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with such elections.
CitationAct No. 43 of 1951
Territorial extentWhole of India
Enacted byParliament of India
Commenced17 July 1951
Related legislation
The Representation of People Act, 1951
Status: In force

The Representation of the People Act, 1951 is an act of

the first general election.[1]

Background

An elected constituent assembly was set up on 9 December 1946 to frame the constitution. Most of the articles of the constitution came into force on 26 January 1950, commonly known as the Republic Day. Part XXI of the constitution contained the transitional provisions. Articles 379 and 394 of Part XXI which contained provisions for provisional parliament and other articles which contained provisions like citizenship, came into force on 26 November 1949, the date on which the constitution was adopted. The provisional parliament enacted the Act vide Act No.43 of 1951 for the first general election conducted on 25 October 1951. The basic qualification to represent the people is Indian citizenship and not disqualified to vote under section 16 of the Representation of People Act, 1950 read with Part II and VII of this act.[2]

Amendments

The act has been amended several times, but some of the notable amendments include

The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced by Varun Gandhi in Lok Sabha.[6]

Application to constitutional offices

Registration of political parties is governed by the provisions of section 29A of this Act.

President

Supreme Court shall inquire and decide & regarding doubts and disputes arising out of or in connection with the election of a

mala fide, ultra vires, void, etc. Also it is the duty of the Supreme Court to clarify any doubt in connection with the election of president such as speedy trail of the pending cases against an elected president before the elevation to president. The scope of the trail would be limited only to decide whether the incumbent president is eligible to continue in his post but not to prosecute the president under criminal charges with arrest and imprisonment or to claim relief in a civil case to comply with the provisions per Article 361
of the constitution.

Vice president

Similar to the president per article 71 upon ceasing to possess the requisite qualifications to be a member of

vice president

Prime minister

Speaker

Speaker of the Lok Sabha is also removed on getting disqualified for being Lok Sabha member under sections 7 & 8 of this Act. This would arise out of speaker's wrong certification of a bill as money bill inconsistent with the definition given in Articles 110 of the constitution.[7] When courts upheld the unconstitutional act of the speaker for wrong certification of a bill as money bill, it amounts to disrespecting the constitution deserving conviction under Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 which is applicable for disqualification of speaker's Lok Sabha membership under sections 7 & 8k of this Act.

Supreme court rulings and RPA

Main articles: Disqualification of convicted representatives in India and Office of profit

The Constitution of India – which empowers the Parliament of India to make laws regarding disqualification of MP and MLA- also mentions that on disqualification of an MP or an MLA, the seat becomes vacant immediately. Interpreting the words of constitution the bench found the clause 8(4) of the RPA act -which gives a time period of 3 months to file an appeal and allows continuation in office till its disposal- as unconstitutional. The Cabinet of Ministers, in order to nullify the judgement, passed an ordinance for the amendment of the act, however the said Ordinance wasn't signed by the President and it was taken back.[8][9] A recent verdict on 19 November 2013 ensured the stay on the election campaigning of the convicted legislators for the current session.[citation needed]

Office of profit

Being public servants, elected representatives, MLAs or MPs, cannot hold an office of profit under section 9 (A) of the Representation of People's Act and Articles 102 and 191(E) of the Constitution.[10]

In the year 2006, Sonia Gandhi resigned her membership of Lok Sabha for enjoying office of profit while being an MP.[11] In 2006, Sonia Gandhi's ruling party in Parliament also amended the Parliament (Prevention of disqualification) Act, 1959 with retrospective effect from 4 April 1959 to prevent her[according to whom?] punishable under the representation of the people Act, 1951 and Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.[12]

Some notable cases and instances

Provisions

The Act allows cash donations of any amount but it states in section 29C that any contributions above ₹20,000 (US$250) to political parties are to be reported.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ The Representation of the People Act, 1951 (PDF). Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. ^ "The Representation of the Peoples Act, 1950". Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  3. ^ "The representation of the people act,1951" (PDF). Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Sections 13 to 20, The Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952". Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  5. ^ "The Representation of the People (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Right to recall will keep MPs, MLAs on their toes", Hindustan Times, 1 March 2017
  7. ^ "Aadhaar Act as Money Bill: Why the Lok Sabha isn't Immune from Judicial Review". Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Supreme Court verdict on disqualifying netas: A right step in the wrong direction?". The FirstPost. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  9. ^ "A Quick U turn?". The Hindu. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Disqualification of 2 UP MLAs in OOP cases historic". dna. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  11. ^ "BJP forced Sonia Gandhi resignation as MP". 10 April 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Parliament (Prevention of disqualification)Amendment Act, 2006" (PDF). 18 August 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Indian residents abroad can participate in election process: Manmohan Singh". newstrackindia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Liquor lands ex-Punjab minister in trouble | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dnaindia.com. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  15. ^ "Paid news claims its price – The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  16. ^ "State Elections 2007 - Constituency wise detail for 24-Bisauli Constituency of Uttar Pradesh". eci.nic.in. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  17. ^ "BEFORE THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA In re:Account of election expenses of Smt. Umlesh Yadav, returned candidate from 24-Bisauli Assembly Constituency at the general election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, 2007-Scrutiny of account under section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951" (PDF). 21 October 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  18. Times of India
    .
  19. ^ "EC disqualifies Minister in M.P." The Hindu. 25 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Madras HC sets aside trial court order acquitting DMK Minister K Ponmudi in disproportionate assets case". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  21. ^ Bureau, ABP News (19 December 2023). "Madras HC Overturns Acquittal, Convicts DMK Minister K Ponmudi In Disproportionate Assets Case". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Why Jaitley's Political Funding Reforms Won't End Anonymous Donations", The Wire, 6 February 2016
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