Parliamentary Panel Recommends Allowing 18-Year-Olds To Contest Polls But ECI Opposes

A parliamentary panel has suggested a reduction in the minimum age for contesting national and assembly elections from 25 years to 18 years, aiming to foster greater youth involvement in the decision-making process. The recommendation was put forth in the 132nd report on "Specific aspects of election process and their reform," presented to the Parliament on Friday. The committee responsible for this report is chaired by Sushil Kumar Modi, a leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The committee emphasized that lowering the minimum age requirement for candidates would provide young individuals with equal opportunities to engage in the democratic process. They supported their viewpoint by citing evidence from global practices, the increasing political awareness among young people, and the benefits of youth representation. Examples from countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where the minimum age for candidacy in national elections is 18 years, further solidified the committee's stance on this matter. These countries have demonstrated that young individuals can be reliable and responsible participants in politics.

The committee also drew attention to youth-led global campaigns like Fridays for Future and March for Our Lives, which highlighted the capacity of young people to rally and advocate for crucial social and political issues. In light of these considerations, the committee recommended reducing the minimum age requirement for candidacy in assembly elections as well. They believed that this move would promote a wider range of viewpoints in policy discussions and lead to more effective results. Younger candidates can also facilitate better communication and cooperation between different generations, enhancing the credibility and faith in the political process.

Currently, the Constitution of India stipulates that the minimum age eligibility to contest assembly or Lok Sabha elections is 25 years, and a Rajya Sabha member must be at least 30 years old. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not supported changing the existing age requirement, expressing concerns about the necessary experience and maturity for such responsibilities among 18-year-olds.

Regarding the proposal for a common electoral roll, the parliamentary panel expressed concern about its potential impact on state powers listed under Chapter IX and IX A of the Constitution. The committee advised the ECI to carefully consider constitutional provisions and powers reserved for the State Election Commissions before taking up the responsibility of preparing the Common Electoral Roll. The committee emphasized the need to adhere to the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution and cautioned against overstepping into the state's domain.

The panel also addressed the issue of false affidavits by candidates and suggested increasing the punishment to a maximum of two years imprisonment and a fine for making false declarations. Currently, under section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the punishment for furnishing false information is six months imprisonment. However, the committee recommended that this penalty should be applied only in exceptional cases, not for minor errors or unintentional mistakes. They proposed considering "intentionally disregarding other requirements," such as the furnishing of information outlined in Section 33A of the RP Act, 1951, as a "corrupt practice."