Palanquin of democracy: HC allows dollies and palanquins for aged voters

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday allowed Election Commission to provide dolly service to carry aged and disabled voters to a polling booth situated atop a hill.

Justice Anil K Narendran allowed use of dolly and

palanquin

service to carry voters to the polling station at SNV Upper Primary School at Mundukottackal in Pathanamthitta municipality after considering a petition filed by a voter named Saji K Simon.

SNV UP School, which is scheduled as the polling station, is atop a steep hill and voters have to climb a total of 48 steep steps to reach there. There is no platform to rest nor any handrails to aid the aged and disabled voters. Such voters won’t be able to participate in the election if polling is held at SNV UP School, it was alleged.

In the petition, it was demanded that either dolly or palanquin service should be allowed for aged and disabled voters or the polling station should be shifted to some other convenient place. The high court had permitted use of

dollies

during the panchayat elections and such a permission should be given for this election too, the petitioner contended.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Election Commission’s counsel Murali Purushothaman said that the commission is willing to provide dolly service for aged and disabled voters if required. Recording the submission, the court directed for providing dolly and palanquin service at the polling station.