Consider the following statements: 1. Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the Election Commission of India has significant powers to ensure free and fair elections. 2. The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 provides for the punishments or penalties to the political parties for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? |ForumIAS

Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the Election Commission of India has significant powers to ensure free and fair elections.
2.The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 provides for the punishments or penalties to the political parties for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

[A] 1 only

[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Notes:

Explanation –

Statement 1 is correct. Article 324 of the Constitution gives the Election Commission of India (ECI) significant powers of “superintendence, direction, and control” over elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice President. This includes the power to take necessary actions to ensure free and fair elections.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951 does not contain provisions to punish political parties for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the ECI, but it is not a statutory document. Violations of the MCC do not attract punitive action under the RPA.

Source: The Hindu

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