TABLE OF CONTENTS Abbreviations; Table of Cases; Chapter 1- Introduction; Defection: Definition And Meaning; Defection And Political Parties; Whip System; Democracy And Anti - Defection Law; Anti - Defection Law In Different Jurisdictions; Papua' New Guinea; India; South Africa; New Zealand; Consequences Of Defection Conceptual Context; Research Methodology; Scope and Limitation; Methods of Data Collection; Research Questions; Hypotheses; Chapterisation; Chapter II - Historical Background of Defection Law in India; Committee on Defection; Recommendations of Committee on Defection; The Constitutional (Thirty Second Amendment) Bill 1973; The Constitution (Fourth Eight Amendment) Bill 1978; Recommendations of the Election Commission; The Constitution (52nd Amendment) Act 1985; Presiding Officers and Anti Defection Law; Rules under Para 8 of the Tenth Schedule; Chapter III - Anti-defection Law: Judicial Response; Anti defection Law; Exception to Disqualification in Defection; 1. Disqualification on ground of defection not to apply in case of split; 11. Disqualification will not apply to Merger; iii. Exception in the case of Presiding Officer of the House; Decision on question as to disqualification on the ground of defection; Judicial Review; Rule Making power of the Speaker; Constitutionality of Tenth Schedule; Whether the Act is in consonance with the Constitution; Decision in Kihoto Hallohan V Zachillhu; Whether Tenth Schedule violative of 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution; Whether tenth schedule is violative of basic structure?; Chapter IV - Amendments to the Tenth Schedule; Subsequent development after 52nd Amendment Act; 1. Role of speaker and anti-defection law; 11. Speaker's decision and defections (1990-2000) ; Reasons for the Constitution (91st Amendment) Act 2003 ; Text of the Amendment; Consequence of the Amendment ; Critical appraisal of 91st Amendment Act; l. Amendment Of Art 75 and Art 164 of the constitution; i. Regulating the number of ministers; 11. Disqualifying a defector member from Ministership; 2. Insertion of Article 361 (B); Experiences after 91st Amendment Act; Chapter V – Conclusion; Bibliography; Annexures.