MATTER FOR MILLIONS OF INDIAN CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD - ELECTION COMMISSION COMMITTEE SUBMITTED ITS REPORT

October 21, 2014 (MMD Newswire) — As per Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s direction The Committee formed for considering feasibility of postal ballot, online voting or proxy voting has submitted its report putting forth the options for NRI’s right to vote. That a copy of the Report (more than 100 pages) has been served on the Counsel for the Petitioners Mrs. Urmila Sirur in W.P. (C) No. 80 of 2013 NAGENDER CHINDAM & ORS vs. UNION OF INDIA & ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA , Petitions for the same cause, the W.P.(C) 1010 of 2013 Naresh Kumar Hanchate & Ors, the W.P.(C) No. 265 of 2014 Shamsheer V.P vs. UOI & ANR were tagged with the lead case above i.e. W.P (C) 80 of 2013, which was filed in Jan 2013.

Next Date of listing is: 07/11/2014, as per the current status of schedule. Refer. http://courtnic.nic.in/supremecourt/temp/wc%2080rpt.txt  http://courtnic.nic.in/courtnicsc.asp

Pravasi Bharat, a campaign group relentlessly fighting for the cause of NRIs’ absentee ballot in all democratic means for past few years. In spite of our busy work schedules, we took our personal time & worked hard in campaigning as well as preparing Writ Petition Draft back in 2012-13. We have spent day and nights to collect the artefacts related to this case. After studying the other democratic nation’s absentee ballot system, we have attached the absentee ballot methods of other democratic nations as annexure(s) with this case. Now, we are delighted to read the report of the committee which studied various options and submitted the report with proposals. We look forward to honourable Supreme Court’s decision and directions in this matter.

After reading the EC committee’s report, the petitioner and the founder of this campaign group Mr Nagender Chindam said: “Ours is a genuinely democratic struggle for the basic right of feasible voting, we have been fighting for the cause for relentlessly, we feel that our long lasting efforts are giving some fruitful results and we are very near to our goal of feasible voting options for Indian citizens abroad. It is matter for millions; I have faith in the importance of our cause and the purity of our democratic and legitimate struggle. Thanks to the honourable Chief Justice’s Court for considering our writ petition in first place and issuing notices to corresponding authorities in Feb, 2013. Now, thanks to the committee which submitted its report. We are looking forward to hear direction and order from honourable Supreme Court.”

CAMPAIGN HISTORY:

1. Foundation: Pravasi Bharat founded in August, 2012 with a main motto of achieving Absentee Ballot for Indian citizens living in abroad. http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/indiaatlse/2012/12/28/long-distance-democracy/

We followed the Gandhi’an style of peaceful struggle. http://gandhifoundation.org/2014/03/03/indian-elections-and-non-resident-indian-nationals-what-would-gandhi-do/

2. Demonstration: On 31st August, 2012 many NRI’s in spite of busy work schedules gathered neat Indian High Commission Office, London for peaceful demonstration and submitted the petition addressed to Prime Minister of India, Election Commission of India through High Commission Office. References (s): http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3845155.ece

3. London March: On 21st October, 2012: NRIs marched from Gandhi Statue, Tavistock Square to Nehru Statue, Aldwych, London and submitted the follow up petition to Prime Minister of India, Election Commission of India through High Commission Office in London. Reference (s): http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nris-invoke-gandhis-name-to-demand-voting-right/article4019533.ece#comments

4. Public Interest Litigation: W.P Civil (80) of 2013 in January, 2013. In the month of Feb, 2013 – Three bench court presided by Honourable Chief Justice of India issued notice to Government & Election Commission on the petition filed by members of Pravasi Bharat. Reference (s): http://www.deccanherald.com/content/314238/sc-notice-centre-ec-online.html

5. Release of White Paper on NRI Absentee Ballot: In December, 2013 we have released our white paper authored by Mr Nagender Chindam and Dr Ameet Mukerjee, Which was distributed to all major political party offices and party leaders. Link to White Paper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-RAWK5rBb6KMENFcW1uYWNQMDA/edit

6. Hunger Strike: With the aim of not missing votes of millions in 2014 general elections and iterate how seriously we concerned about our motherland and have our say in who governs us, Mr Chindam went for Three day hunger strike from 24th Jan, 2014 and ending on auspicious day of India’s republic day 26th Jan, 2014. Mr. Chindam’s speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpOiLjJvNFA

Reference (s):

BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01xg6sp

Rediff: http://www.rediff.com/news/interview/ls-elections-india-can-send-rocket-to-mars-but-not-allow-absentee-voting-for-nris/20140321.htm

IBN: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/nri-on-hunger-strike-in-london-over-right-to-vote/447615-2.html

Photos Stream of various events of our campaign (also few pics attached): Link

Sincerely,
Srujan Chada | Press Officer | 07809 825055 | Pravasi Bharat |

http://www.pravasbharat.org

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Contact (s)
Nagender Chindam, Chairman - Pravasi Bharat
Phone +44 7710 612055
Arti Gujare, President - Pravasi Bharat
Phone +44 7823 446057

http://www.pravasbharat.org/