STATE ELECTION COMMISSION

Subject : Polity

Context : Puducherry state election commission gears up to hold local body polls.

Concept :

State Election Commission:

The Constitution of India vests in the State Election Commission, consisting of a State Election Commissioner.
Articles 243K, 243ZA gives the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities to SEC.
It states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature.
However, State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court.
The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
As per article 243(C3) the Governor, when so requested by the State Election Commission, make available to the State Election Commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the SEC.
The provisions of Article 243K of the Constitution, which provides for setting up of SECs, are almost identical to those of Article 324 related to the EC. In other words, the SECs enjoy the same status as the EC.