Ahead of general elections 2019, the Supreme Court will hear a petition seeking an effective mechanism to ensure implementation of voting rights of soldiers. The petition has been filed by Adv Neela Gokhale.

New Delhi: As the country heads for the general elections in the year 2019, the Supreme Court is all set to hear a petition seeking an effective mechanism to ensure the implementation of voting rights for soldiers of the Indian armed forces. About 1.3 lakh men and officers of the three services- Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, by virtue of being posted in remote and inaccessible areas of the country, remain unable to participate in the electoral process. On Monday, the apex court will be hearing the petition filed by Advocate Neela Gokhale. 

Citing that the Indian Army is an all-volunteer force and comprises of 80 per cent of the country's active defence personnel, the petition cites that the presently followed postal ballot process, 'deprives' the armed forces personnel and their adult family members from casting their votes in the general elections of the country. 

The petition points out that the present rules made under the Representation of Peoples Act 1951, have 'deficiencies' and have failed to ensure the participation of soldiers in the general elections of the country. It may be noted that presently, the armed forces personnel register their votes through postal ballot system or proxy voting method.

The petition has thus prayed the Supreme Court to pass a 'reasonable order' to ensure participation of 1.3 lakh armed forces personnel in the general elections of the country. The petition has underlined the fact that the cantonments and military stations where the soldiers are posted are a part of various constituencies.

"Therefore the soldiers may be conferred the right to be registered as voters in the constituency, where they are serving /posted at the relevant time, as ordinary residents of that constituency. This will enable the personnel to cast their vote in person and even reduce the expense involved in the postal ballot system and complications in the proxy procedure," the petition has suggested.