[Secretariat of Election Commission of India]

Summary

This three-page English-language document is a formal letter dated 14 September 1994 from the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India to Shri Venkiteswaran. Signed by Sohan Lal, Under Secretary (Legal), it responds to earlier letters and a telegram concerning registration under Section 29-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The letter directs the recipient’s attention specifically to subsections 29-A(5) and 29-A(7), and encloses the relevant statutory extract for reference.

The enclosed extract sets out the requirements and procedure for registering an association or body as a political party. It specifies application deadlines, the required signature and method of submission, the particulars an application must contain, and the obligation to affirm allegiance to the Constitution and to the principles of socialism, secularism, and democracy while upholding India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity. It also describes the Election Commission’s power to seek further information, hear representatives, decide whether to register the body, treat its decision as final, and receive prompt notice of subsequent material changes.

Key points

• The letter is dated 14 September 1994 and is issued by the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India.
• It is addressed to Shri Venkiteswaran and concerns registration under Section 29-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• The correspondence refers particularly to subsections 29-A(5) and 29-A(7).
• Applications for political-party registration must be signed by the association’s or body’s Chief Executive Officer and submitted to the Commission’s Secretary by registered post.
• Applications must provide organisational, membership, office, and legislative-representation details.
• The association’s memorandum or rules must affirm allegiance to the Constitution and to socialism, secularism, and democracy, and uphold India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.
• The Election Commission may seek further particulars, hear the association’s representatives, and decide whether to register it; the decision is stated to be final.