With reference to anti-defection law in India, consider the following statements:

With reference to anti-defection law in India, consider the following statements:

1. The law specifies that a nominated legislator cannot join any political party within six months of being appointed to the House.
2. The law does not provide any time-frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: 2 only

1. The anti-defection law punishes individual Members of Parliament (MPs)/MLAs for leaving one party for another.
2. However, it allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e. merge with) another political partywithout inviting the penalty for defection. And it does not penalise political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators. 
3. the law does not provide a time-frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.