YSRCP Files Urgent Complaint Over Postal Ballot Rules in Supreme Court

03.06.2024: Supreme Court: YSRCP has claimed that the National Election Commission is seeking to simplify the current rules regarding counting of ballots through a recent circular.

New Delhi: The results of the Lok Sabha elections are out late at night. 24 hours before counting of votes, the issue regarding postal ballot reached the Supreme Court. Andhra Pradesh’s ruling party YSRCP filed a complaint against the postal ballot in the Supreme Court. The case will be heard today.

The National Election Commission is seeking to simplify the current rules regarding counting of ballots through a recent circular, claimed the YSRCP. Allegedly, as per the recent circular, it was mandatory to mention the name of the officer-in-charge and government post at the counting center in Form 13A. But this time the commission wants to simplify that rule.

They claim that on May 30, the Election Commission has issued a special circular only for Andhra Pradesh, where it has been said that postal ballots will be accepted if there is a signature of the attesting officer in Form 13A. YSRCP alleged that this is against the rules of the Election Commission. Postal ballots should be counted as per the Election Rules, 1961 and earlier rules issued by the National Election Commission.

Incidentally, yesterday the leaders of the India Alliance filed a complaint with the National Election Commission regarding the counting of ballots. They alleged that so far the EVM counting started only after the counting of ballots. But this time the rule of counting of ballots has been made after EVM counting. Abhishek Munusinghi questioned the legal validity of the Commission’s power to change any statutory rule by issuing a circular.