A group of 65 polling personnel in West Bengal, who were deployed on election duty away from their registered constituencies, approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to cast their votes. They highlighted the irony of being responsible for conducting elections while being denied the right to vote themselves. However, the Supreme Court refused to entertain their pleas, stating that such matters are beyond its purview and that the Election Commission has the authority to handle such requests.
Details of the Plea
The petitioners, including teachers and government employees, were assigned to polling stations in different districts. They argued that their fundamental right to vote was being infringed upon due to their deployment. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, observed that the Election Commission has established protocols for absentee voting for election officials, and the court cannot intervene in every individual case.
Legal and Logistical Challenges
The court noted that allowing such pleas would set a precedent for thousands of other officials, creating logistical complications. The Election Commission has provisions for early voting or postal ballots for those on duty, but the petitioners claimed they were not informed or enabled to use these facilities. The court suggested that the affected individuals approach the Election Commission for redressal.
The incident has sparked a debate on the voting rights of election officials, with many experts calling for systemic reforms to ensure that those who facilitate the democratic process are not disenfranchised. The Election Commission has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
