Gujarat High Court Stops Execution of Compulsory Voting Act in Local Elections
About High Court: High Court also refers to the superior court or Supreme Court of a country or state. In some countries, it is the highest court like in Australia. While in some countries it is also lower court like in England and Wales.
About execution of compulsory voting Act:
- Gujarat High Court has stopped execution of the compulsory voting in the panchayat and municipal elections under the provision of Gujarat Local Authorities Laws Act 2009.
- High Court Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Jayant Patel and Justice J. B. Pardiwala declare this on public interest litigation challenging the constitutional validity of the Act.
- Gujarat had become the first state in India to make voting compulsory in local elections.
- This law states with mentioning that any person in state, who does not vote in the local elections, will be responsible for strict action and punishment.
- It also had authorized the State Election Commission to declare an absent voter as defaulter, except in case person out of station or illness.
- State government also had enclosed rules for implementation of this Act by affecting to the strict actions to be initiated against those who do not exercise their permit in the municipal and district panchayat elections.
✍Examrace Team at Aug 22, 2021