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Supreme Court dismisses PIL seeking voting rights for Indian diaspora
A PIL was filed seeking voting rights for NRIs, citing the need for broader policy deliberation.
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Supreme Court of India / sci.gov.in
In a hearing held on Dec. 13, the Supreme Court of India refused to accept the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the inclusion of the Indian diaspora in the country’s electoral process through mechanisms like postal ballots or embassy voting.
The case, filed by petitioner Savya Sachi Krishnan Nigam, highlighted the challenges faced by millions of non-resident Indians (NRIs) in exercising their voting rights due to the requirement of physical presence at polling stations in India.
The two-judge bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, granted the petitioner permission to argue the case in person. After initial arguments, the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the plea, with the liberty to approach a more appropriate forum for addressing his concerns. The Court dismissed the petition as withdrawn.
During the proceedings, the petitioner, appearing in person, argued passionately for the adoption of remote voting systems to ensure greater political participation by NRIs.
Representing the Election Commission of India, the respondents maintained that the matter required broader deliberation and policy adjustments.
This case reflects the growing demand among the 1.35 crore-strong Indian diaspora for electoral reforms. Despite past discussions on introducing remote voting methods, such as electronically transmitted postal ballots, the legal and logistical framework remains a work in progress.
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