The government has been asked by the Election Commission to stop using indelible ink to check multiple exchanges by people at different branches after the notes ban. The election body has told the Finance Ministry in a letter that several states will hold elections and there will be confusion as indelible ink also marks citizens who have already voted. Five states will hold by-polls on Saturday, the Election Commission has said, and the government should ensure that the use of indelible ink on people exchanging banned Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes does not cause a problem when they vote.
The government has said that indelible ink would be used to mark the right hand, not the left, because of elections in states including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Bottles have been airlifted to cities across India.
The government announced the inking on Tuesday after revenue intelligence agencies reported that those with black or untaxed money were making innocent people stand in multiple queues each day to exchange their illegal money, Rs. 4500 at a time.
Full Article: Don’t Use Indelible Ink in Banks: Election Commission To Finance Ministry.