The Supreme Court of India issued a clear directive to the Election Commission on Thursday. The court instructed the poll body to publish the names of individuals excluded from the draft electoral rolls in Kerala. This action aims to enable affected voters to file formal objections against their removal.
Court's Directive on Voter Roll Transparency
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi delivered this significant order. The justices emphasized the need for transparency in the electoral process. They stated that the Election Commission must make the list of deleted names publicly available if it has not done so already.
Background of the Petitions
The court's directions emerged from a series of petitions. Notable petitioners included the Kerala state government itself. Political leaders from various parties also joined the legal challenge. Indian Union Muslim League leader P K Kunhalikutty, CPI(M) leader M V Govindan Master, and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph were among them. The CPI State Council also filed a petition.
These petitioners raised a critical concern. They informed the court that approximately 24 lakh names had been deleted from the draft electoral rolls. Voters wishing to contest these deletions faced a major hurdle. The specific names of the removed individuals were not accessible to the public.
Alleged Errors in the Draft Rolls
The petitions highlighted several alleged inaccuracies in the draft voter list. Some voters were incorrectly marked as deceased in the records. Others were wrongly shown as residing outside the state of Kerala. These errors, the petitioners argued, unjustly stripped citizens of their fundamental right to vote.
Supreme Court's Specific Orders
The bench issued precise instructions to address these issues. The court ordered the Election Commission to display the names of excluded persons in two key locations.
- Physical Display: The list must be posted at the offices of gram panchayats or other public offices within the villages.
- Online Display: The names must also be published on the Election Commission's official website.
This dual approach ensures wider accessibility for voters across Kerala, both in rural and urban areas.
Extension of Deadline Consideration
Recognizing the practical difficulties faced by voters, the Supreme Court offered further guidance. The bench suggested the Election Commission consider extending the deadline for filing objections. "Having regard to the difficulty being experienced by the people at large, the EC may consider the desirability of extending the date," the court remarked.
Timeline of Submission Deadlines
The case involved multiple extensions to the original deadline for submitting enumeration forms.
- The initial deadline was set for December 4.
- Following earlier court interventions, this was first extended to December 11.
- A subsequent extension pushed the final date to December 18.
The Supreme Court's latest order now opens the door for a potential further extension. This would provide more time for voters to review the published lists and submit their objections formally.
The court's intervention underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding electoral integrity. By ensuring transparency in the voter list preparation process, the ruling aims to protect every citizen's democratic right to participate in elections.
