Why in the news?

Recently, the SC’s judgment on the Chandigarh Mayoral election gives us a good occasion to think more broadly about elections in municipalities.

Context:

• Elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies are exemplary democratic processes known for their punctuality, well-organized procedures, and seamless transitions of power.
• However, when it comes to elections for grassroots governments like panchayats and municipalities, the scenario is entirely different.

CAG’s performance audit report on unelected Urban Local government councils:

• On delayed Elections: The CAG audit reports of 17 states highlight that over 1,500 municipalities did not have elected councils in place during the audit period of 2015-2021. This indicates a widespread problem across states in conducting timely municipal elections as mandated by the 74th CAA.
• On Council Formation: Even in cases where elections were held, there were delays in constituting councils and electing mayors, deputy mayors, and standing committees. In Karnataka, there was a significant delay of 12-24 months in forming elected councils across 11 city corporations.
• On Long Delays in Council Formation: In Karnataka, reports indicate a 26-month delay in forming councils and electing chairpersons and standing committees for the first 2.5-year term, following the announcement of election results in September 2018.
  • Moreover, after the expiry of the first term in May 2023, some urban local governments did not hold elections for chairpersons and standing committees for more than eight months.
• On Regional Disparities: The report highlights regional differences in the extent of delays, with Chandigarh experiencing a relatively shorter delay of 12 days compared to other regions.
• On Data Accessibility Issues: The report mentions difficulties in accessing summary data on the making of councils and the election of mayors, deputy mayors, and standing committees, indicating potential challenges in transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

What are the challenges to Municipal elections?

• Enforcement for Timely Elections: The first challenge identified is the need for determined enforcement to ensure timely elections for urban local governments. Article 243U of the 74th Constitution Amendment Act specifies that the duration of urban local governments is five years, and elections should be completed before the expiry of this duration.
• Non-Compliance by State Governments: Despite the Supreme Court’s clear stance regarding timely elections, state governments are non-compliant.
• Discretion of Government Officials: One aspect of the challenge involves the discretion of government officials in scheduling elections on time. There is a concern that officials may have the discretion to delay elections, which could undermine the democratic process.
• Possibility of Undue Influence: There is a concern about the possibility of state governments exerting undue influence on officials to delay elections for various reasons, which could compromise the fairness and integrity of the electoral process.
• Issue with Manual Ballot Paper-Based Process: The use of a manual ballot paper-based process for elections is also mentioned as a challenge. Such a process may be prone to errors and manipulation, highlighting the need for modernization and digitization of the electoral process.
• Issues with Short Terms: The terms being less than five years exacerbate the challenge of conducting frequent elections. This is particularly relevant as 17% of cities in India, including five of the eight largest ones, have mayoral terms of less than five years.

Suggestive measures:

• Empowering SECs: To deal with the challenges effectively, SECs need to play a more significant role in overseeing the electoral process. Articles 243K and 243ZA of the Constitution mandate that SECs have the superintendence, direction, and control over the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections to panchayats and urban local governments.
• Empowerment for Ward Delimitation: Only 11 out of 35 states and union territories have empowered SECs to conduct ward delimitation. Ward delimitation is crucial for ensuring fair and equitable representation in municipal elections. SECs should be granted greater authority, including the power to conduct ward delimitation
• SECc Vs. ECI: The courts have emphasized that SECs enjoy the same status as the Election Commission of India in the domain of elections to panchayats and urban local governments under Part IX and Part IXA of the Constitution. This underscores the significance of SECs and their authority in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections at the local level.
• Role in Electoral Oversight: SECs should actively oversee the electoral process, including the preparation of electoral rolls, conduct of elections, and enforcement of election laws. This proactive role is essential for maintaining the integrity and credibility of municipal elections.

Conclusion: Comprehensive reforms are needed for Municipal Elections in India, addressing delays, enforcing constitutional mandates, empowering State Election Commissions, and modernizing electoral processes to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability.

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