Article 324 is the democratic shield of the Republic. It creates an autonomous, constitutional Election Commission of India (ECI) endowed with plenary powers to conduct free, fair, and transparent democratic elections. To ensure zero political intimidation from the ruling party, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) enjoys the exact same removal protection as a Supreme Court judge—they cannot be removed except by parliamentary impeachment.
Article 325 ('No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex') in Part XV (Elections) protects the democratic foundation of the Republic. It governs the independent Election Commission of India (Art 324), prohibits separate or discriminatory electoral rolls based on religion, race, caste, or sex (Art 325), guarantees universal adult suffrage at age 18+ (Art 326), empowers electoral legislation (Arts 327–328), and channels election disputes through formal election petitions (Art 329). Specifically: There shall be one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency for election to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House of the Legislature of a State and no person shall be ineligible for inclusion in any...
When the Indian Constitution came into force in 1950, Article 326 executed the boldest democratic experiment in human history: while Western democracies took centuries to grant voting rights to women, the poor, and racial minorities, India granted Universal Adult Suffrage to every adult citizen—man or woman, billionaire or daily-wage labourer, literate or unlettered—from Day One.
Originally set at 21 years, the voting age was lowered to 18 years by the historic 61st Constitutional Amendment Act, 1988, empowering India's youth. Combined with Article 325 (which prohibits separate communal electorates and forbids excluding anyone from the voter roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex), Article 326 ensures that political sovereignty rests in the hands of ordinary citizens.
Article 327 ('Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to Legislatures') in Part XV (Elections) protects the democratic foundation of the Republic. It governs the independent Election Commission of India (Art 324), prohibits separate or discriminatory electoral rolls based on religion, race, caste, or sex (Art 325), guarantees universal adult suffrage at age 18+ (Art 326), empowers electoral legislation (Arts 327–328), and channels election disputes through formal election petitions (Art 329). Specifically: Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may from time to time by law make provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in connection with, elections to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House...
Article 328 ('Power of Legislature of a State to make provision with respect to elections to such Legislature') in Part XV (Elections) protects the democratic foundation of the Republic. It governs the independent Election Commission of India (Art 324), prohibits separate or discriminatory electoral rolls based on religion, race, caste, or sex (Art 325), guarantees universal adult suffrage at age 18+ (Art 326), empowers electoral legislation (Arts 327–328), and channels election disputes through formal election petitions (Art 329). Specifically: Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and in so far as provision in that behalf is not made by Parliament, the Legislature of a State may from time to time by law make provision with respect to all matters relating to, or in...
Article 329 ('Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters') in Part XV (Elections) protects the democratic foundation of the Republic. It governs the independent Election Commission of India (Art 324), prohibits separate or discriminatory electoral rolls based on religion, race, caste, or sex (Art 325), guarantees universal adult suffrage at age 18+ (Art 326), empowers electoral legislation (Arts 327–328), and channels election disputes through formal election petitions (Art 329). Specifically: Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution — (a) the validity of any law relating to the delimitation of constituencies or the allotment of seats to such constituencies, made or purporting to be made under article 327 or article...
Public Domain & Statutory Authenticity Notice
Under Section 52(1)(q) of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, the Constitution of India, Bare Acts of Parliament, Gazette Notifications, and Judicial Judgments of the Supreme Court and High Courts are in the Public Domain. Text is reproduced from the official Legislative Department, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India (India Code) archives.
