UPSC-Relevant News Items

1. EC's Pre-filled Notices to Bihar Electors Challenge Jurisdiction of Local Officials Under Election Law.

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Summary:

• The Election Commission (EC) issued pre-filled notices to lakhs of Bihar electors during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of draft rolls.
• Local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) found these ungenerated notices in their central portal log-ins, despite legal mandate for local issuance.
• This centralized intervention raises procedural concerns over jurisdiction, potentially unsettling the assigned chain of accountability and electoral integrity.

Additional Facts:

• The Election Commission (EC) derives its powers for electoral superintendence from Article 324 of the Constitution, while procedural mandates for roll revision and the functions of the ERO are defined under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
• The ERO serves as the designated institutional mechanism under the RPA, 1950, possessing the localized jurisdiction for issuing notices during roll revision to ensure procedural accountability and electoral integrity.

Linkage with UPSC course:

• GS Mains (GS-2):
• • Constitutional Bodies (Election Commission of India)
• • Statutory, Regulatory and Quasi-judicial Bodies
• • Representation of the People Act, 1950
• • Issues related to electoral reforms

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