Expedite e-voting for NRIs, SC tells Centre
13 Jan 2015 12:12 AM GMT
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the government to ensure that a system is put in place to allow NRIs to e-vote within 8 weeks. The move came after the government made it clear to the apex court that it was willing to accept the recommendations put forth by the Election Commission, in this regard.
The bench headed by Chief Justice HL Duttu gave the Centre four weeks time to inform about further steps taken to implement EC’s suggestion. “Since the views and recommendation have been accepted let them go ahead with the follow-up. They will have to carry out the follow-up process at the earliest,” the bench said. SC passed the order on a submission made by the Centre on the feasibility of allowing NRIs’ voting rights during elections. The apex court had earlier asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the EC’s proposal for allowing NRIs to cast their votes through proxy voting and e-ballots in polls in India.
The expatriate Indian community in Dubai and the gulf region has hailed SC’s orders to the Government to take steps to ensure that NRIs are also able to vote. Under the proposal, NRIs will be sent ballot papers electronically and they will have to return it to poll authorities physically.
The bench headed by Chief Justice HL Duttu gave the Centre four weeks time to inform about further steps taken to implement EC’s suggestion. “Since the views and recommendation have been accepted let them go ahead with the follow-up. They will have to carry out the follow-up process at the earliest,” the bench said. SC passed the order on a submission made by the Centre on the feasibility of allowing NRIs’ voting rights during elections. The apex court had earlier asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the EC’s proposal for allowing NRIs to cast their votes through proxy voting and e-ballots in polls in India.
The expatriate Indian community in Dubai and the gulf region has hailed SC’s orders to the Government to take steps to ensure that NRIs are also able to vote. Under the proposal, NRIs will be sent ballot papers electronically and they will have to return it to poll authorities physically.
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