Close X
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
ADVT 
India

Enable voting by NRIs in eight weeks, SC tells government

Darpan News Desk IANS, 12 Jan, 2015 10:00 AM
    The Supreme Court Monday asked the government to take steps, within eight weeks, for implementation of e-voting by NRIs after being told the government has accepted the poll panel's recommendation to this effect.
     
    The government has accepted both in "letter and spirit the recommendation of the Election Commission. Further steps are to be taken to implement the suggestions in eight weeks", said a bench of Chief Justice H.L.Dattu and Justice A.K.Sikri in their order.
     
    The order came as government Monday informed the court that it has accepted the EC report on voting by the NRIs.
     
    Appearing for the petitioners Nagender Chindam, Naresh Kumar Hanchate and Shamsheer V.P, senior counsel Dushyant Dave told the court that the recommendation of the panel set up by the Election Commission could be carried out both by the executive order or by taking a legislative route.
     
    At this court said: "They (government) will take the follow-up action. If it is amending the law then they will amend and if it is through an executive order then they will pass it." It also told the government to do it "at the earliest".
     
    Senior counsel Meenakshi Arora, who appeared for the poll panel, told the court that for facilitating NRI voting as suggested by the expert panel would require amending the law as it at present the votes could only be exercised at the polling booth concerned.
     
    In a related plea, the court also sought the response of the Election Commission on the facilities that could be extended to migrant workers within the country to cast their votes for the constituency where they are registered as voters from their native place. 
     
    As Arora said that they could get registered afresh as voters in the city where they are working, the counsel for petitioners said there were enormous difficulties including that of identity in getting registered as voters in a new place.
     
    The apex court Nov 14 had asked the government to consider the report of the Committee for Exploring Feasibility of Alternative Options for Voting by Overseas Electors, set up by the poll panel, recommending electronic or proxy voting by NRIs staying overseas.
     
    The panel had however, rejected the feasibility of NRIs voting at the diplomatic missions. It had also not favoured internet voting till appropriate technology

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Meets Modi; Keen To Be Partner In Digital India

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Meets Modi; Keen To Be Partner In Digital India
    Global IT giant Microsoft's chief executive officer Satya Nadella Friday met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. He is the third tech giant executive to meet Modi, after Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg.

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Meets Modi; Keen To Be Partner In Digital India

    India's 'Kissing Baba' Arrested

    India's 'Kissing Baba' Arrested
    The "kissing baba", a fake godman who was hugging and kissing women devotees to treat their illness and solve other problems, has been arrested in Andhra Pradesh, police said Friday.

    India's 'Kissing Baba' Arrested

    BJP Wants To Rule Kashmir - With Hindu Chief Minister

    BJP Wants To Rule Kashmir - With Hindu Chief Minister
    The BJP declared Thursday that it was determined to govern Jammu and Kashmir amid speculation that the National Conference would ally with it if the BJP didn't insist on a Hindu chief minister for the country's only Muslim-majority state.

    BJP Wants To Rule Kashmir - With Hindu Chief Minister

    Two Arrested For Acid Attack On Woman Doctor In Delhi

    Two Arrested For Acid Attack On Woman Doctor In Delhi
    Arvind Yadav, a batch mate of the victim, along with his friend Vaibhav hatched the plan to throw acid on Amrita Kaur, police said.

    Two Arrested For Acid Attack On Woman Doctor In Delhi

    2 Men on Motorbike Throw Acid At Woman Doctor In Delhi's Rajouri Garden Area

    2 Men on Motorbike Throw Acid At Woman Doctor In Delhi's Rajouri Garden Area
    Acid was hurled at a 30-year-old woman doctor at a crowded market in the national capital Tuesday morning by two motorcycle-borne assailants, police said.

    2 Men on Motorbike Throw Acid At Woman Doctor In Delhi's Rajouri Garden Area

    Committee to probe 1984 victims' grievances

    Committee to probe 1984 victims' grievances
    The government Tuesday constituted a committee to look into various grievances of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, said an official statement....

    Committee to probe 1984 victims' grievances