Article 324 and the Election Commission
In one line: Article 324 vests the superintendence, direction and control of electoral rolls and of elections to Parliament, State legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President in the Election Commission.
What the Article says
The Commission consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and such other Election Commissioners as the President fixes. The CEC can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds of a Supreme Court judge. Article 325 provides one general roll per constituency without discrimination on religion, race, caste or sex, and Article 326 sets adult suffrage at 18.
How courts read it
In Mohinder Singh Gill v. Chief Election Commissioner (1978) the Supreme Court described Article 324 as a reservoir of power that the EC can use where the law is silent. The same line of cases says the EC must act within laws made by Parliament, not against them.
Why it is in the news
The EC's changes to Form 6 test that boundary: plenary power under Article 324 versus a statutory form under the 1960 Rules.
Where to go next
- Representation of the People Act, 1950
- Decision-making in a multi-member Election Commission
Article 324 and the Election Commission in the news
- Supreme Court says it never approved the modified Form 6, issues notice to the EC 6 October 2026
The constitutional source of the EC's power over rolls.
- EC orders drive to enrol left-out voters in 20 SIR States, drops added Form 6 question 2 October 2026
The constitutional root of the Commission's power over electoral rolls.
Previous-year questions on this
- 2026 · GS2 · 10 marks Is the right to vote a fundamental right? Discuss the position of the Election Commission of India while undertaking the revision of electoral rolls. Can it also examine the question of citizenship…
- 2017 · GS2 · 15 marks To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make…
- 2017 · Prelims Right to vote and to be elected in India is a (a) Fundamental Right (b) Natural Right (c) Constitutional Right (d) Legal Right