Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 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

    Uproar over Christmas Day school event, government says no school open

    Uproar over Christmas Day school event, government says no school open
     A circular by Navodaya Vidayalaya Samiti under the human resource development ministry to observe Good Governance Day on Christmas Day kicked up an...

    Uproar over Christmas Day school event, government says no school open

    Drug money funding terror, shun habit, Modi urges youth

    Drug money funding terror, shun habit, Modi urges youth
    Exhorting India's youth to shun drugs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said narcotics not only destroy lives and families but the money paid to buy them could be funding terrorists in their nefarious activities.

    Drug money funding terror, shun habit, Modi urges youth

    Six Arrested In Haryana For Gang-raping, Selling Woman

    Six Arrested In Haryana For Gang-raping, Selling Woman
    Haryana Police have arrested six people for their alleged involvement in the gang rape and sale of a woman from Maharashtra. Three of them also killed the woman's minor son, an official said Sunday.

    Six Arrested In Haryana For Gang-raping, Selling Woman

    Pro-Islamic State Tweeter Mehdi Biswas Sent To Five Days Police Custody

    Pro-Islamic State Tweeter Mehdi Biswas Sent To Five Days Police Custody
    A local court Sunday sent pro-Islamic State (IS) terror group tweeter Mehdi Masroor Biswas to five day police custody for interrogation, a police official said.

    Pro-Islamic State Tweeter Mehdi Biswas Sent To Five Days Police Custody

    Woman tries self-immolation outside Badal's residence

    Woman tries self-immolation outside Badal's residence
    A woman was admitted Thursday to a government hospital here with over 20 percent burns after she set herself ablaze outside the residence of Punjab Chief Minister....

    Woman tries self-immolation outside Badal's residence

    Punjab's border belt to get uninterrupted power

    Punjab's border belt to get uninterrupted power
    Giving a major reprieve to the residents of border districts of Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Friday announced that the state government...

    Punjab's border belt to get uninterrupted power