Kerala PIL seeks voting rights for NRIs

KOCHI: Kerala High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation petition demanding voting rights for Non-Resident Indians.

Admitting the petition by Shihas Baby of Kozhikode, who is working in Bahrain, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S R Bannurmath and Justice Kurian Joseph ordered issue of notices to the state and central governments and also to the Election Commission.

The Bench directed the central government to convey its stand within one month.

The petitioner challenged the provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act which enables only ordinary residents to cast their votes in the election.