E-Voting Rights For 25 Mn NRIs: SC Seeks Status From Centre [Read Order]

HANGING FIRE There are 25 Million NRIs across the world Centre had in 2010,granted voting rights to NRIs but the rules required them to be present in their constituency on the day of voting Two activist NRIs Nagender Chindam who is the Chairman of the UK-based Pravasi Bharat and Shamsheer V P from Kerala moved SC in 2013 and 2014 respectively seeking e-voting rights for NRIs. Election Commission also recommended it saying e-voting has almost no risk of manipulation, rigging or violation of secrecy Centre in July last year said it had accepted it in principle and will get Representation of People’s Act dealing with elections amended to implement e-voting for NRIs but things have not moved an inch The Supreme Court has asked the Centre about the status of the proposal to allow 25 million Non-Resident Indians across the world to participate in Indian elections through e-vote. A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur enquired about the latest stand of the union government after senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for a petitioner said one and a half years ago the Centre had accepted the Election Commission’s proposal in this regard, claimed it formulated a draft bill and told the court that steps are being taken to get the Representation of People Act 1951 amended. Two NRIs - Nagender Chindam, Chairman of the UK-based Pravasi Bharat and Shamsheer V P, an NRI from Kerala had in 2013 and 2014 respectively filed two public interest litigations in the apex court.