Salient Features of the Representation of People Act, 1950

The Representation of the People Act, 1950 specifies the provisions for the allocation of seats in, and the delimitation of constituencies for the purpose of election to the House of the People and the Legislature of States, the qualifications of voters at such elections, the preparation of electoral rolls, the manner of filling seats in the Council of States to be filled by representatives of Union Territories and matters connected therewith.

Some Salient Points of the Act

(a) House of People

The allocation of seats to the States in the House of the People and the number of seats, if any, to be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and for the Scheduled Tribes of each State is in accordance with the First Schedule of the Constitution. All the seats in the House of the People allotted to the States shall be filled by persons chosen by direct election from parliamentary constituencies in the States. Every parliamentary constituency shall be a single-member constituency.

(b) Officers

• Chief electoral officers
• District election officer
• Electoral registration officers

(c) Electoral Roll

For every constituency there shall be an electoral roll which shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions of this Act under the superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission.

(d) Miscellaneous

Every local authority in a State shall, when so requested by the Chief Electoral Officer of the State, make available to any Electoral Registration Officer such staff as may be necessary for the performance of any duties in connection with the preparation and revision of electoral rolls.

• No civil court shall have jurisdiction-
  • To entertain or adjudicate upon any question whether any person is or
  • Is not entitled to be registered in an electoral roll for a constituency.
• If any person makes in connection with—
  • The preparation, revision or correction of an electoral roll, or
• The inclusion or exclusion of any entry in or from an electoral roll, a statement or declaration in writing which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.