Part XV - Elections • Article

Article 325 Simplified: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex

Article 325 (No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex) governs the democratic process and elections. It establishes the rules for voter lists, the power of Parliament to make election laws, and the independence of the election machinery to keep votes free and fair.

Official Text

There shall be one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency for election to either House of Parliament or to the House or either House of the Legislature of a State and no person shall be ineligible for inclusion in any such roll or claim to be included in any special electoral roll for any such constituency on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or any of them.

Simple Meaning

Explain Like Ten

This rule says everyone in an area is on the same voting list. The government cannot make separate lists for different religions or castes, and cannot keep anyone off the list because of their background.

Student Mode

Mandates a single general electoral roll for every territorial constituency. It prohibits discrimination by declaring that no person shall be ineligible for inclusion in the voter list, nor can they claim to be included in any special or separate electoral roll, on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or any of them. This abolished the colonial-era communal electorate system.

Example

If an election dispute or voting rule is questioned, Article 325 points to the constitutional process for no person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex instead of leaving the issue to informal practice.

Key Takeaway

Article 325 anchors no person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex within India's constitutional system.

FAQs

What was the historical significance of Article 325?

During British rule, the colonial administration implemented separate communal electorates (e.g., separate voter rolls and seats for Muslims, Sikhs, and Europeans), which divided Indian society. Article 325 eliminated this by establishing a single general voter roll for all citizens.

Can a state create a separate voter list for women?

No. Under Article 325, no person can claim to be included in a special electoral roll, nor can they be excluded from the general roll, on the grounds of sex. Men and women are listed together on the same general electoral roll.

Quiz

Article 325 mandates that there shall be how many electoral rolls for every constituency?

Answer: One general electoral roll

Under Article 325, a person cannot be excluded from the electoral roll on the grounds of:

Answer: All of the above