Electoral Adjudication in India

Electoral Adjudication in India R Chandidas A competent civil service ensures free and fair conduct of elections, a trusted judiciary provides a check over the functioning of the former, and a strong public opinion, expressed either directly or through the legislature or both, affords a double check on the civil service as well as the judiciary. The spate of election petitions complaining of irregularities shows that partisan considerations lead the contestants to indulge in malpractices. It, therefore, devolves upon the agencies responsible for electoral adjudication to restore the confidence of the electorate in the elections by quickly disposing of the election petitions in a manner which guarantees fair play and justice.