Kerala HC Ensures Poll Officials Get Postal Ballots Before Voting Deadline

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued the directive while hearing a writ petition filed by the Kerala NGO Union, which flagged a widespread denial of voting rights to government officials deployed for election duties.

The petition highlighted that, under the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, polling personnel are entitled to vote through postal ballots.

However, despite submitting Form 12 applications within the stipulated time, a significant number of officials allegedly did not receive their ballots.

With the designated postal voting window running from April 1 to April 8, delays in distribution rendered the mechanism largely ineffective.

According to the Union, even as late as April 6, several voter facilitation centres had not received ballot papers, forcing many officials to return without casting their votes.

The situation was further compounded by the tight schedule on April 8, when polling personnel are required to collect voting machines and election materials before proceeding to assigned booths, leaving little to no time to exercise their franchise.

The petition argued that the continuous and mandatory nature of election duty made it practically impossible for many officials to vote, effectively disenfranchising a section of government employees tasked with ensuring free and fair elections.

Taking note of the urgency, the court recorded submissions from the respondents that steps would be taken to expedite ballot distribution.

It directed that postal ballots be made available to all eligible personnel who had not yet received them, subject to the affected list being communicated to nodal officers at designated facilitation centres.

The court emphasised that the exercise must be completed at the earliest, and in any case before 2 p.m. on April 8, seeking to ensure that those conducting the democratic process are not themselves excluded from it.

- IANS