Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 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

    Narendra Modi Meets Richard Gere

    Narendra Modi Meets Richard Gere
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday met Hollywood actor Richard Gere here. "Mr. Richard Gere met Prime Minister @narendramodi," read a post from the @PMOIndia Twitter handle.

    Narendra Modi Meets Richard Gere

    Techie Found Dead, Wife Injured In Suspected Murder-suicide

    Techie Found Dead, Wife Injured In Suspected Murder-suicide
    In a suspected murder-suicide, a software engineer was found dead while his wife of two months was found grievously injured in their home here Sunday

    Techie Found Dead, Wife Injured In Suspected Murder-suicide

    53 Years On, Indian Soldiers In Icy Himalayas Short Of Boots, Ski Masks

    53 Years On, Indian Soldiers In Icy Himalayas Short Of Boots, Ski Masks
    It's yesterday once more as 53 years on, Indian Army soldiers in the icy Himalayas, to go by a parliamentary panel's report, suffer a crippling shortage of snow boots, ski masks and ammunition, among others - precisely the cause of the crushing defeat inflicted by the marauding Chinese forces in 1962.

    53 Years On, Indian Soldiers In Icy Himalayas Short Of Boots, Ski Masks

    Hijack Threat: Security Tightened At Delhi Airport After Terror Alert

    Hijack Threat: Security Tightened At Delhi Airport After Terror Alert
    Security was Sunday tightened at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport here following an intelligence alert that terrorists may target Air India flights going to Afghanistan, officials said.

    Hijack Threat: Security Tightened At Delhi Airport After Terror Alert

    Congress, BJP Spar Over Pakistani 'Terror Boat'

    Congress, BJP Spar Over Pakistani 'Terror Boat'
    The ruling BJP Sunday hit out at the Congress for seeking a probe into the alleged Pakistani "terror boat" incident and said its questioning the matter showed the opposition party had touched a "new low" in politics.

    Congress, BJP Spar Over Pakistani 'Terror Boat'

    Highs Hit A New Low As Day Chill Returns In Punjab, Haryana

    Highs Hit A New Low As Day Chill Returns In Punjab, Haryana
    While the minimum temperature at most places across Haryana and Punjab showed an upward trend Sunday, it was the turn of the maximum temperatures to hit a new low.

    Highs Hit A New Low As Day Chill Returns In Punjab, Haryana