Kerala High Court Seeks Election Commission's Response On Postal Voting For Poll Duty Officials Before Commencement Of Counting
The Kerala High Court on Friday (24 April) directed the counsel for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to obtain instructions on applicability of Rule 27 of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 with regard to postal vote of officials on election duty.The Vacation Bench of Justice P. Krishna Kumar issued the order while considering a batch of petitions which alleged large-scale denial of...
The Kerala High Court on Friday (24 April) directed the counsel for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to obtain instructions on applicability of Rule 27 of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 with regard to postal vote of officials on election duty.
The Vacation Bench of Justice P. Krishna Kumar issued the order while considering a batch of petitions which alleged large-scale denial of voting rights to government officials deployed for election duty for the Assembly elections held in the State on April 9.
The Court on 8 April had directed the ECI to take corrective steps to ensure that election duty personnel receive their postal ballots without delay. Pursuant to this, on the same day the Election Commission had issued an order facilitating voting of the officers on duty.
The Counsel for the petitioners have however submitted that voters on election duty have not received ballot papers despite their time bound submission of application.
It was contended that according to Rule 27 of the Conduct of Election Rules, the postal ballot papers by a voter must reach the returning officer before the hour fixed for the commencement of counting of votes, and thus grievance of the petitioners could be addressed any time before the counting.
The Court thus recorded the submission and directed the counsel for ECI to get instructions on the same.
The matter has been posted on 28 April for further consideration.
Case Title: Kerala N.G.O Union v Election Commission of India and connected matters
Case No: WP(C) 14279/ 2026 and connected matters
Counsel for Petitioner: Dinesh Mathew J. Muricken, Vinod S. Pillai, Nayana Varghese, Jerry Peter, Goutham Chandrasekhar, Ria Varghese, Goutham Chandrasekhar, Maroof, Nafiya Shahala C.K, T.B.Hood, M. Isha, Nayanpally Ramola, Aadithyan S. Mannali, Anoop V. Nair, Sharannya P., Athil P., C A. Beema Beevi, Ferra A Thankam
Counsel for Respondent: M Ajay (SC- ECI), Deepu Lal Mohan