Ward-wise counting: SC seeks EC response

The petition further stated that by declaring the results of the entire constituency, it would bring balanced growth and balanced funding.

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Election Commission (EC) on a petition seeking a direction for declaring the results of a parliamentary constituency as a whole and not through ward-wise counting of votes.

The PIL, filed by Punjab-based advocate Yogesh Gupta, claimed that ward-wise counting of votes violated the voters’ right to privacy and left such areas prone to vindictive neglect by the winning candidate if the residents did not vote for him.

The petition, which has come four days ahead of the counting of votes for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, stated that the ward-wise declaration of the results would lead to an adverse impact on the voters as the political parties would harass the electorate in areas where it has not received votes.

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“In the present form of declaration of the results, the political parties become aware of the wards where they have not been voted and where they have got maximum votes,” stated the petition. “The present form also acts as a catalyst for registration of false cases based on political vendetta against the persons who have not voted for victorious parties,” it added.

The petition further stated that by declaring the results of the entire constituency, it would bring balanced growth and balanced funding. It also cited the reports of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar threatening the residents of a Baramati village on the eve of polling that he would cut off the water supply if they did not vote in favour of his cousin and sitting NCP MP Supriya Sule. The Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and N V Ramana has asked the EC to reply by May 21.

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