Topic: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
4. The primary objective of the Anti-Defection Law is to promote stability and prevent political defections, which can lead to horse-trading and opportunistic alliances. But the law has been ineffective and at times even counterproductive in preventing defections. Critically examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu , Insights on India
Why the question:
A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India is presently hearing a set of cases popularly known as the “Maharashtra political controversy cases”. These cases arose out of the events in June last year, when the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition (the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress) lost power after an internal splintering of the Shiv Sena party.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the shortcomings of the anti-defection law and measures needed to fix them.
Directive word:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Write about objectives of anti-defection law.
Body:
First, write about various features of anti-defection pertaining to disqualification.
Next, write as to why the anti-defection has been ineffective in preventing defection and horse trading. Substantiate with examples.
Next, suggest measures needed to rectify this.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
