News- SC upholds EC criteria on symbol allotment

SC upholds EC criteria on symbol issue

Permanent symbol would be granted only to political parties which have garnered at least 5% votes in assembly elections or have managed to win two assembly seats or one seat in the parliamentary elections from the state

New Delhi: In a majority verdict, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the criteria of the Election Commission (EC) for granting symbols to unrecognised registered political parties, reports PTI

A three-judge bench comprising Justice Altamas Kabir, S S Nijjar and Jasti Chelameswar upheld the panel's symbol order by a two to one majority. Justice Chelameswar wrote the dissenting order against EC's symbol criteria.

The court passed the order on a batch of petitions filed by state political parties, challenging the symbol order of the EC.

According to the EC's order, permanent symbol is granted to those political parties which have garnered atleast five per cent votes inassembly elections or have managed to win two assembly seats or one seat in the parliamentary elections from the state.

Several parties including, the then Praja Rajyam Party, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam had approached the apex court in 2008 against the EC's decision to change their symbol from what was allotted to them previously.Bottom of from what was allotted to them previously.     

Online voting is not possible in the near future 

 - Chief Election Commissioner Dr.SY Quraishi 

Chief Election Commissioner Dr.SY Quraishi on Tuesday said he doesn't see online voting becoming a reality in near future while state funding of elections in the country will first require certain key reforms in the electoral process. "Voting online, technologically is child's play for us. We are an IT superpower. Let's accept that. But we do not see that happening in the near future," Quraishi said at a session on "Governance: The Key to a developed India" a function held at New Delhi