New Delhi: The recommendation of Election Commission of India (ECI) to extend voting rights to NRIs through postal ballots has been accepted in letter and spirit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre government on Monday told Supreme Court about this move.
Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Chief Justice HL Dattu and AK Sikri asked the Centre to inform it about “further steps taken to implement the suggestions.”
The matter had been posted by bench after eight weeks in which it ask the Centre to do the needful at the earliest.
The bench said, “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.”
Additional Solicitor General PL Narasimha had cleared the stand of Government. He said certain amendments are required to be carried out and the ministry of law is working on them, taking into consideration the EC recommendations.
The apex court on November 14, 2014 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.
Time of four week had been granted by SC to the government to respond to the proposal prepared by a 12-member committee led by Vinod Zutshi, Deputy Election Commissioner, for ‘Exploring Feasibility of Alternative Options for Voting by Overseas Electors’.
The committee in its report said that it is of the view that e-postal ballot, where blank postal ballot is transferred electronically to NRIs and returned by post, can be employed after validation of the process and pilot implementation in one or two constituencies.
Bureau Report
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