Supreme Court Asks Petitioners to Take Up Concerns with Election Commission
Summary: The Supreme Court has asked petitioners to pursue their grievances regarding the publication of voter turnout data and votes polled booth-wise with the Election Commission (EC). The SC was hearing a plea by TMC MP Mahua Moitra and NGOs Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause seeking the publication of booth-wise voter turnout data and uploading of Form 17C data on the ECI website.
Introduction:
The Supreme Court has given an opportunity to petitioners to resolve their concerns with the Election Commission (EC) regarding the publication of voter turnout data and votes polled booth-wise. The SC was hearing a plea by TMC MP Mahua Moitra and NGOs Association for Democratic Reforms and Common Cause, who have sought the publication of booth-wise voter turnout data and uploading of Form 17C data on the ECI website.
Hearings and Concerns:
- The petitioners, represented by senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, sought disclosure of the data citing potential discrepancies in the numbers.
- The Election Commission, represented by senior advocate Maninder Singh, assured the court that the new Chief Election Commissioner was willing to listen to concerns and meet the petitioners to resolve the issues.
- The SC bench, consisting of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K V Viswanathan, asked the petitioners to file a representation and approach the EC with their suggestions, assuring that the EC would inform them about the hearing.
Challenges and Obstacles:
- Singh pointed out that, on the day of the poll, no phones, internet, or email were available at polling booths, making it difficult to record accurate data.
- The Election Commission argued that providing booth-wise data was not feasible or desirable, as it would require aggregating data from individual polling agents.
Conclusion:
The Supreme Court’s decision to ask petitioners to pursue their grievances with the Election Commission presents an opportunity for the EC to address concerns and ensure transparency in the electoral process. The petitioners’ plea for disclosure of booth-wise voter turnout data and Form 17C data remains pending, and it is crucial for the EC to take the necessary steps to resolve these issues.
Keywords: Supreme Court, Election Commission, Voter Turnout Data, Form 17C, Election Process, Transparency, Democracy
Hashtags: #SupremeCourt #ElectionCommission #VoterTurnoutData #ElectionProcess #Transparency #Democracy