A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s decision to increase the number of voters per polling booth to 1,500. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argues that this move creates barriers to voting and seeks a reduction in the number of electors per booth. The petitioner advocates for a progressive decrease in voters per booth to improve accessibility and ensure a smoother voting process.
New Delhi: A public interest litigation (PIL) submitted to the Supreme Court, contesting the Election Commission of India‘s (ECI) decision to raise the maximum number of voters per polling booth to 1,500 or more.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, PV Sanjay Kumar, and R Mahadevan instructed that a copy of the PIL be delivered to the ECI through its Standing Counsel.
The case scheduled for a hearing in the week starting December 2, by which time Justice Khanna is expected to assume the role of Chief Justice of India.
The PIL, filed by Indu Prakash Singh and represented by Advocate Talha Abdul Rahman, with assistance from Advocates Rafid Akhter and Sudhanshu Tewari, requests that the number of electors per polling booth be set at 1,200, consistent with the practice from 1957 to 2016.
It also seeks an increase in the number of polling stations to meet the requirements outlined in Section 25 of the Representation of People Act.
Additionally, the petition calls for measures to ensure that the ratio of electors per polling station remains between 1,000 and 1,200, taking into account the differences between urban and rural polling centers, with a progressive reduction of these numbers in the future.
The plea argues ,
“Increase in voters per polling booth creates structural/institutional barriers to the exercise of the right to vote, in light of the principle of non-retrogression.”
Senior Advocates Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Shadan Farasat, along with Advocates Natasha Maheshwari and Abhishek Babbar, represented the petitioner.
During the hearing, Singhvi contended that poor laborers are forced to wait in queues for up to three hours to vote, which challenges the basic structure of the Constitution.
The Bench, however, did not issue a notice but asked the Election Commission to clarify how the number of booths is “rationalized.”
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The PIL against the Election Commission’s move to increase the number of voters per polling booth to 1,500 raises critical questions about voter accessibility, the right to vote, and the potential impact on India’s democratic framework.
The Supreme Court has not yet taken a definitive stance, but its request for clarification from the Election Commission suggests that the case will likely receive further scrutiny. If successful, the plea could lead to changes in how polling booths are allocated, potentially reducing the number of voters per booth and making the voting process more accessible for all citizens.