The top court closes 2013 plea seeking directions to permit NRIs to vote from abroad

The Supreme Court today closed a petition filed in 2013 that wanted directions to permit Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to vote from abroad while not insisting on physical presence.

A bench led by CJI UU Lalit disposed of the case by reassuring that the professional General can take up the steps needed to visualize that persons living outside and migrant labourers are a part of the electoral method.

The same petition was filed in 2013 at a stage once nothing was being done to modify such persons to solidify their votes. Today, the notice has not solely seeped in however has reached associate extent wherever the plea reached the Parliament, same the apex court. The court said that the petition had served its purpose and it sees no reason to entertain it from now on.

The legislation to permit NRIs to vote from abroad has not been acquired nevertheless. When the petition was filed within the Supreme Court, a notice was issued in February 2013.

The election commission of Republic of India (ECI) recognized a committee to look into the matter and resolve ways in order that NRIs and migrant staff will participate within the electoral method.

The committee then submitted a report that the Centre accepted. the govt. then introduced the illustration of individuals (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in Lok Sabha to amend the provisions of Section sixty of the illustration of individuals Act, 1951.

The modification would modify electors overseas to own proxies to solid votes on their behalf. The bill was passed in Lok Sabha however wasn't introduced in Rajya Sabha and as a result, the bill itself lapsed. Since then, there hasn’t been any development within the case.