Rajasthan Election Commission is an important topic under Rajasthan Polity that deals with the conduct and supervision of elections at the local body level in the state. It explains the structure, functions, and role of the Commission in ensuring free and fair elections in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies. Understanding this topic helps in analyzing the democratic framework and electoral processes in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Election Commission: Powers and Responsibilities
- Formation: Enacted on 1 July 1994 under Section 120 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act 1994 under Article 243K of the Indian Constitution.
- At the time of establishment: Chief Minister Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Governor Baliram Bhagat (order issued on 17 June 1994)
- The nature of this commission is as a constitutional institution or as a constitutional body.
- To provide constitutional status to local self-government in the country, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act-1992 was passed by the Parliament which came into force from 24 April 1993.
- No special provision was made for this in the original Constitution and the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments of 1992 provided constitutional status.
- The 73rd Constitutional Amendment mentioned the State Election Commission in Part-IX and Article 243K.
- The 74th Constitutional Amendment mentioned the State Election Commission under urban bodies in Part 9 (a) and Article 243 ZA.
- In Rajasthan, the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act 1994 was passed, which came into force from 23 April 1994.
- On 17 June 1994, Governor Baliram Bhagat issued orders to establish the State Election Commission and on this basis the Commission started its work from 1 July 1994.
- It is a single-member commission headed by the State Election Commissioner.
State Election Commission Structure
- The State Election Commission is a one-member body and its chairman is the Election Commissioner.
- The State Election Commission has a Secretary, who is called the Chief Electoral Officer of the State.
- The Chief Electoral Officer is the representative of the Election Commission of India in the state.
- Note:The State Election Commission is not a subordinate body of the National Election Commission.
Ability:
- There is no constitutional provision on qualifications.
- The Governor determines the qualifications and must be a serving or retired Indian Administrative Service officer with at least five years’ experience as a Secretary to the Government (Government of India and State Governments).
- If he is still in office, he shall be deemed to have retired from the post of Secretary to the Government from the date of his appointment as Election Commissioner.
Appointment
- The State Election Commissioner is appointed by the Governor.
Oath
- Governor or nominee
Resignation
- The State Election Commissioner addresses the Governor and resigns or resigns his office.
Tenure
- State Election Commissioner: 5 years from the date of assumption of office or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
- Note: The tenure of the Central Election Commissioner is 6 years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
Terms of Service
- The service conditions of the State Election Commissioner are determined by the Governor and after appointment, the service conditions cannot be changed to his disadvantage.
Salary
- The salary of the Election Commissioner is fixed at the same as that of a High Court Judge (Rs 2.25 lakh).
Removal process
- The State Election Commissioner can be removed from his office only for the same reasons and in the same manner as the removal of High Court judges. That is, the Election Commissioner can be removed through the process of impeachment.
- Note: The State Election Commissioner is removed by the President after the process of impeachment.
Annual Report:
- Presents to the Governor.
Responsibility:
- The SEC performs the constitutional duty of conducting elections to Panchayati Raj institutions and municipal bodies and preparing the voters’ list.
- It is the constitutional body responsible for ensuring free and fair elections.
State Election Commissioner of Rajasthan
| S.No. | Name | tenure | Special Facts |
| 1. | Amar Singh Rathore | 1994 – 2000 | longest tenure |
| 2. | Nekram Bhasin | 2000 – 2000 | Minimum Tenure |
| 3. | Indrajit Khanna | 2002 – 2007 | Served as the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan. |
| 4. | A.K. Pandey | 2008 – 2013 | |
| 5. | Ramlubhaya | 2013 – 2017 | |
| 6. | Prem Singh Mehra | 2017 – 2022 | |
| 7. | Madhukar Gupta | 2022 – 2025 | |
| 8. | Rajeshwar Singh | From September 17, 2025 | Present |
Current Chief Electoral Officer โ Shri Naveen Mahajan
History of elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions
- The first elections of Panchayati Raj institutions in Rajasthan were conducted by the Panchayati Raj Department in 1960.
- The initial elections in 1965, 1978, 1981 and 1988, i.e. the second to fifth elections, were conducted by the ‘Election Department’.
- The first elections were conducted by the Rajasthan State Election Commission (SEC) in 1995. Thereafter, elections are conducted by the Election Commission every five years, or in the event of dissolution of the bodies.
- The 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th general elections were conducted by the Rajasthan State Election Commission in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 respectively.
- The 11th general elections were conducted by the SEC in 21 districts in SeptemberโOctober 2020.
History of urban body elections
- Start: By the Department of Local Self Government since 1960.
- First election (1963): Conducted by the Election Department.
- Midterm elections (1970โ1986): Organized by the Election Department in various groups.
- First pick by the SEC: Held in 1994 (45 bodies) and 1995 (137 bodies).
- Subsequent elections: Completed in 1999-2000, 2004-05, 2009-10 and 2014-15.
- Elections for 91 urban bodies were conducted by the SEC in January-February 2021.
Election Department and Administrative System
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)
- Role: It conducts Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state under the Election Commission of India. He is also the Secretary of the State Election Commission.
- Appointment: By the Election Commission of India (under Section 13A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950) in consultation with the State Government.
- Assistance: They are assisted by officers from IAS, RAS, Accounts Service and IT Service.
- Present: Naveen Mahajan, IAS (Chief Electoral Officer and Secretary).
District and local administrative structure
- District Election Officer (DEO): The District Collector has been designated as the ‘District Election Officer’ under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (Section 13AA).
- Electoral Registration Officer (ERO): Appointed under Section 13B for preparation of electoral roll of Assembly Constituency (IAS/RAS Officer).
- Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO): Appointment under section 13C (officers of RAS/Tehsildar Service).
- Returning Officer (RO): For Lok Sabha: 24 District Collectors + 1 ADM (Jaipur Rural).
- For Assembly: Separate officers (IAS/RAS) for all 200 constituencies.
- Polling Stations: Under Section 25 (1951 Act), the District Collector is responsible for establishing polling stations.
Delimitation and reserved seats
- Delimitation Commission: Constituted under the provisions of Article 82. Delimitation of seats as per Delimitation 2002 is effective from 19 February 2008.
- Seat Mathematics:
- Lok Sabha (25 seats): 4 reserved for SCs, 3 for STs (8 Assembly constituencies in each Lok Sabha constituency).
- Legislative Assembly (200 seats): 34 reserved for SC, 25 for ST.
Election Commission of India (ECI) –
- Installation:25 January 1950 (Article 324).
- Liability: To conduct elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, President and Vice President.
- Voter List: At the state level, voter lists are prepared under the supervision of the Chief Electoral Officer (Rajasthan).
