Supreme Court asks Centre about steps being taken to protect voting rights of defence personnel

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to apprise it about the steps being taken to protect voting rights of defence personnel. Responding to the PIL filed by MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, SC directed the Centre to file a report on possible steps which can be taken to protect the rights of the armed forces as pleaded in the petition and granted Centre four weeks time to respond. Chandrasekhar said, "In

February 2014, I had approached the Supreme Court to overturn UPA government/ Election Commission's restrictions on armed forces right to vote. The interim order by the SC in March 2014 had allowed voting for soldiers posted in peacetime stations. Today's SC direction to the government is a big step to securing voting rights for all soldiers." Earlier in March 2014, in a landmark interim order, Supreme Court had ordered the Election Commission to facilitate voting rights for defence personnel and not obstruct it. Armed forces personnel and their families stationed in peace areas since January 1, 2014 were considered as general voters and allowed to cast vote at their places of posting.

Advocate Sajan Poovayya, who appeared on behalf of Chandrasekhar, highlighted the plight of the service voters and the failure of the postal ballot system and allied issues.

The three-judge bench also inquired from the government if it would consider any technological advances such as e-balloting for facilitating voting by the service personnel.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar had first written to the then Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath in April 2013 highlighting the deficiencies in the voting process for service personnel. The Centre has been given four weeks time to file a report on the possible steps which can be taken to protect the rights of armed forces personnel to exercise their franchise during elections.