Protect citizens’ right to scrutinise all poll materials
New Indian ExpressThe Centre recently tweaked an election rule, and the Election Commission of India saw nothing wrong with it. The reference is to the Centre amending one of the Conduct of Election Rules of 1961 following a recommendation from the ECI—in effect, denying citizens access to video and CCTV footage of the election process. The commission also insisted that easy access could compromise voter secrecy; but nobody records how the voter votes. Set aside these two contentions, and one question would remain: whether the amendment was in reaction to the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the ECI to provide election process materials, including visuals, to a petitioner—a citizen, not a contestant—seeking them. The Congress said it would challenge the rule change because “transparency and openness are key factors” in ensuring free and fair elections—the spirit in which the high court gave its order.
History of this topic
Supreme Court Issues Notice On RTI Activist's Plea Challenging Amendment To Election Rules Restricting Public Disclosure Of Poll Records
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Resisting transparency, eroding public trust
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Election Rules amendment meant to protect privacy, prevent voter profiling: CEC
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DC Edit | Don’t give up consensus path to poll transparency
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Why Modi govt doesn't want you to see CCTV footage from a poll booth
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Rule tweak cuts access to certain poll documents
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Poll rules tweaked to restrict default public access to docs
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Why is ECI afraid of transparency: Congress after election rule tweak
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Centre amends rule to restrict access to poll documents
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Change in Conduct of Election Rules indicates erosion of electoral process integrity, alleges Congress
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Centre amends Conduct of Election Rules to limit public access to poll documents
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