HC notice to EC on plea for not accepting ration card as ID proof

The Madurai Bench of the Madras HC has issued notice to Election Commission on a petition seeking to permit ration cards as a proof of identity.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has issued notice to Election Commission on a petition seeking to permit ration cards as a proof of identity while casting votes in the absence of Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).

A Division Bench comprising Justice V.Periya Karuppiah and Justice G.M.Akbar Ali directed the EC to file its reply to the Public Interest Litigation petition by a town panchayat councillor from Pullambadi in Tiruchirappalli District.

The bench also issued notice to the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer.

In its guidelines for the last month’s Lok Sabha elections,the EC had said it would permit voters,who do not possess EPIC but whose names are in the electoral rolls,to exercise their franchise if they were able to produce any one of the 13 listed documents,including passport,driving licence,nationalised bank passbook with photo and PAN cards. However,ration card was excluded from the list of such documents.

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