Use Of Children In Election: ECI
Source: PIB
GS II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections
Overview
- News in Brief
- ECI Instructions
- Election Commission of India (ECI)
Why in the News?
The Election Commission of India (ECI) conveys zero tolerance towards the use of children in election-related work or campaign activities and issues directives to parties, candidates and election machinery.
News in Brief
- In continuation of its earlier directives to parties and candidates to address plummeting levels of campaign discourse and to maintain respectful discourse towards Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), the Election Commission of India has issued strict directives regarding use of children in any election-related activities.
- Political Parties have been advised not to use children in election campaigns in any form whatsoever including the distribution of posters/pamphlets or to participate in slogan shouting, campaign rallies, election meetings, etc.
- The Commission has conveyed Zero Tolerance towards the use of children in any manner during the electoral process by parties and candidates.
ECI Instructions
Prohibition of Child Participation in election related Activities
- Political parties are explicitly directed not to engage children in any election campaign.
- It includes rallies, slogan shouting, distribution of posters or pamphlets, or any other election-related activity.
- Political leaders and candidates should not use children for campaign activities, including holding a child in their arms or carrying a child in a vehicle or in rallies.
- This prohibition extends to the use of children to create the semblance of a political campaign in any manner including use through poem, songs, spoken words, display of insignia of political party/candidate, exhibiting ideology of political party, promoting achievements of a political party or criticizing the opponent political parties/candidates.
Legal Compliance
- All political parties and candidates are required to ensure strict compliance with the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, as amended by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.
- The Commission directives also highlighted the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in its Order Chetan Ramlal Bhutada Vs. The state of Maharashtra and others have stressed the need to ensure that political parties do not allow the participation of minor children in any election-related activities.
Exeption: Mere presence of a child accompanied by their parent or guardian in proximity of a political leader and who is not involved in any election campaigning activity by the political party, will not be construed as a violation of the guidelines.
Election Commission of India
- The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body.
- ECI is responsible for administering elections in India at national, state and district levels.
- It was established on 25th January 1950 by the President of India under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
- It is headquartered in New Delhi.
- The commission is responsible for conducting free and fair elections, monitoring election campaigns, and enforcing model code of conduct among political parties and candidates.
- The Election Commission of India consists of a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners, appointed by the President of India.
- A majority vote takes decisions of the commission, and it operates with a secretariat comprising officers and staff members responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the commission.
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