Gandhinagar: Governor of Gujarat OP Kohli had cleared the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws Bill which bound voters for the compulsion of vote in local body polls. Notify that state government under Narendra Modi had earlier passed the bill but the bill was opposed by former Governor Dr. Kamla.
The Bill also provides for 50 percent reservation for women in local bodies.
DM Patel, State Assembly Secretary on Sunday said, “The Governor of Gujarat has signed the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws bill and gave sanction for its implementation to the state government.”
He said that the Bill was sanctioned by the Governor three days back, he said.
Bill claimed that any person who fails to vote during local body polls, is liable for “punishment and will be penalised,” though it did not explain the exact nature of action.
The Bill was first introduced on the floor of state Assembly in December 2009 and passed by a majority vote.
Dr Kamla meanwhile returned it to the government for reconsideration in April 2010 with remarks that “forcing voter to vote is against the principles of an individual liberty”.
While asking state government to make amendments to the Bill through letter, Dr Kamla said, “The present Bill violets the freedom which a citizen is entitled to enjoy under Article 21 of the Constitution. Government should not have entered into a controversy to compel voters to act against their conscience by means of coercion.”
Bureau Report
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