Kochi, April 17: The Kerala High Court has requested a response from the Election Commission regarding complaints about flaws in the postal voting process. The next hearing is scheduled for April 21.
A petition filed by a state government employee claims that despite following all necessary procedures, he was denied his constitutional right to vote.
This petition comes after voting took place on April 9 for 140 assembly seats, during which several complaints about postal voting had already emerged.
The new case has reminded the court of previous assurances given. On April 8, the Election Commission assured the High Court that employees on election duty would be provided ample opportunity to vote via postal ballots. This assurance followed a writ petition filed by the Kerala NGO Union.
The union alleged that government employees on election duty faced significant difficulties in receiving their postal ballots, despite being granted this right under the Election Conduct Rules, 1961.
According to the union, delays in ballot paper distribution prevented many employees from voting. The postal voting period from April 1 to April 8 coincided with busy election preparations, complicating matters further.
Many officials had not received their ballots even by April 6, and on April 8, they were occupied with collecting EVMs and other election materials, leaving them with no time to vote.
In light of these circumstances, the High Court had previously directed that all eligible employees be provided with ballot papers by 2 PM on April 8.
The new petition alleges a failure to comply with these directives, prompting the court to intervene once again. This case raises serious concerns about the rights of employees who manage the election process yet are deprived of their voting rights.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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