Consider the following statements regarding anti-defection law under ...
Anti-Defection Law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution
Introduction:
The Anti-Defection Law was passed in 1985 to prevent political defections in the Indian Parliament and state legislatures. The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, popularly known as the Anti-Defection Law, was added by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.
Statement 1: Presiding officer has to decide on a defection case within 14 days of filing a petition regarding the case.
The Anti-Defection Law gives the power to the presiding officer of the House to decide on defection cases. As per the law, if a member of a legislature voluntarily gives up the membership of his/her political party or disobeys the party's directives on a vote, he/she will be disqualified from being a member of the House. The presiding officer has to decide on a defection case within 14 days of filing a petition regarding the case. This provision ensures that defection cases are dealt with expeditiously.
Statement 2: If one-third of the legislators move along with the breakaway group then they will not be considered defectors.
The Anti-Defection Law also provides for an exception to the disqualification of members in case of a split in a political party. As per the law, if one-third of the legislators move along with the breakaway group then they will not be considered defectors. This provision was added to allow for the possibility of a genuine split in a political party.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, both statements given in the question are related to the Anti-Defection Law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. However, only statement 2 is correct. The presiding officer has to decide on a defection case within a reasonable time, but there is no specific time limit mentioned in the law. The one-third provision is an important exception to the Anti-Defection Law, which allows for the possibility of a genuine split in a political party without attracting disqualification of members.
Consider the following statements regarding anti-defection law under ...
10th Schedule: - Constitutional basis:
- The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution by the 52nd Amendment Act.
- It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection.
Statement 1 is incorrect: - The law does not provide a time frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.
- The court in its recent judgment has held that, ideally, Speakers should take a decision on a defection petition within three months.
Statement 2 is correct: - Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances.
- The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least twothirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger.
- In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.
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