Article 324

In the news

• EC tells Supreme Court the CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge 27 October 2026 · The Hindu

  Can a court stop a sitting Chief Election Commissioner from working, or does only Parliament hold that power?

• EC orders Special Summary Revision of voter rolls in 17 States and UTs ahead of 2027 polls 16 October 2026 · The Hindu

  After a bruising intensive revision, the EC returns to the routine way of updating rolls. What is different?

• EC orders drive to enrol left-out voters in 20 SIR States, drops added Form 6 question 2 October 2026 · Indian Express

  After the voter-roll clean-up, the Election Commission now has to find the eligible voters it may have lost.

• Opposition demands the Chief Election Commissioner's exit 25 September 2026 · The Hindu

  Can Parliament remove a Chief Election Commissioner, and how hard is it?

Key facts

• Article 324(5) says the CEC can be removed only in like manner and on the like grounds as a Supreme Court judge, and his conditions of service cannot be varied to his disadvantage after appointment. (27 October 2026)
• Other Election Commissioners can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC, under the second proviso to Article 324(5) and Section 11(3) of the 2023 Act. (27 October 2026)
• On 15 October 2026 the ECI ordered a Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls in 17 States and UTs with 1 January 2027 as the qualifying date. (16 October 2026)
• Draft rolls come out on 12 November 2026, claims and objections run until 11 December, and final rolls are due on 4 January 2027. (16 October 2026)
• The ECI has ordered a special drive in 20 States and UTs where the SIR is over to enrol left-out, young and first-time eligible electors. (2 October 2026)
• Plain statutory Form 6 will be used, without the July addition on whether the applicant or parents were on the roll after the previous SIR. (2 October 2026)
• Under Article 324(5), the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge. (25 September 2026)
• Other Election Commissioners can be removed only on the recommendation of the Chief Election Commissioner. (25 September 2026)

Previous-year questions

1. 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 of the voters?
2. 2022 · GS2 · 15 marks Discuss the role of the Election Commission of India in the light of the evolution of the Model Code of Conduct.
3. 2018 · GS2 · 10 marks In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India?
4. 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 democracy successful?
5. 2017 · Prelims Consider the following statements: 1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body. 2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections…
6. 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