Kerala assembly polls: EC denies allegations of postal ballots not being issued

Kochi: Election Commission of India (EC) has submitted a statement before high court denying the allegation that certain voters on election duty for the state assembly election were not issued postal ballot papers. It stated that EC has taken all earnest and proactive measures to ensure that every eligible voter on duty is facilitated to exercise their franchise.The commission submitted the statement in response to petitions filed by Muhammed Sinan V P of Vadakara and others, who were designated for election duty in the assembly election held on April 9. The petitioners alleged that, although some of them were eligible voters in the Kuttiady assembly constituency, they were assigned official duties at polling stations outside their respective constituencies and were not provided with postal ballot papers, thereby depriving them of the opportunity to cast their votes. In its reply, EC categorically stated that, in the case of Sinan and certain other petitioners, the returning officer of Kuttiady assembly constituency had reported that no applications in Form 12 were received from them, and therefore, postal ballots were not issued. Similarly, in the case of another petitioner, Shemi Abdulla Chalil of Kozhikode, a postal ballot was issued and duly dispatched to the voter facilitation centre; however, it was returned as the elector did not turn up. EC further objected to the petitioners' prayer seeking a directive to allow voting by postal ballot before the counting day on May 4. It stated that any interference at this stage — including reopening the process, reissuing postal ballots, and reactivating voter facilitation centres — would compromise the integrity, secrecy and sanctity of the electoral process. EC also stated that there had been no lapse, omission, or illegal denial of the petitioners' voting rights. HC adjourned the petitions to April 24, granting time to the petitioners to file their replies to EC's statement.