The Telangana High Court in Kesana Vishnu Vardhan Goud vs Election Commission Of India recently addressed a plea urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to allow pregnant women to vote via postal ballot. Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R Raghunandan Rao, presiding over a Division Bench, concluded a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking this direction.
The court instructed that the petition be treated as a representation, prompting the ECI to deliberate on the matter and decide whether expecting mothers should have the option to cast their votes through postal ballots.
Here’s what happened:
- Kesana Goud filed a PIL emphasizing that pregnant women face challenges in exercising their voting rights.
- Goud proposed that similar to the provision for senior citizens above 85 years, pregnant women should be allowed to vote via postal ballot.
- The PIL cited Section 60 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, which empowers the ECI to designate eligible voters for postal ballots.
- The petitioner urged the ECI to issue a notification permitting pregnant women to use postal ballots.
- The ECI counsel noted that the Lok Sabha elections had commenced, suggesting the matter be considered for future elections.
- The Court disposed of the plea, directing the ECI to review the petitioner’s representation for upcoming elections.
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