The Union Home Ministry has drawn up a Draft Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2016, seeking to make bribery during polls a cognizable offence under Sections. 171-E and 171-F of the Indian Penal Code and enhancing maximum punishment under this provision to three years from the existing one year. This follows a letter written by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in December, 2016, proposing the above two amendments as part of reforms to tackle bribery of voters during polls. Sources in the Election Commission revealed that the Bill was circulated to the states for their comments in February, 2017. As per law, fifty percent of the states must give their consent for the draft Bill to be moved in Parliament. [Times of India dated 06th March, 2017].
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