The Election Commission’s decision not to allow civil servants and security forces deployed in the elections to vote have raised serious concerns from various organisations of the civil servants have raised serious over their constitutional rights. In his writ, civil servant Bharat Kumar Mainali has demanded a mandamus order with certiorari from the apex court to ensure the voting rights of the civil servants regardless of their deployment for the proportional representation election system. Mainali has demanded that the SC annul any provision that bars the civil servants from voting and issue a mandamus order to ensure the voting rights by including their names in the temporary voting list of the Election Commission.
Citing the examples of two previous Constituent Assembly polls, he has urged the court to ensure the same provision is followed in the upcoming polls. The hearing on the case will begin on Tuesday.
Citing the existing legal provisions, EC Spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal said that some legal and administrative hurdles could pose challenges in allowing poll officers and security personnel deployed for polls to cast their ballots.
Full Article: Petition seeks voting rights for civil servants – National – The Kathmandu Post.