New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) raising concerns over the inability of students pursuing higher education outside their home constituencies to exercise their right to vote was moved today before the Supreme Court of India.
The petition highlights that even after nearly 77 years of Independence, a significant section of eligible student voters remains effectively excluded from the electoral process.
Unlike employees, who are statutorily entitled to holidays or leave on polling days, students are not provided any institutional mechanism to enable them to return to their constituencies to vote.
Academic schedules, examinations, travel costs and logistical constraints further restrict their ability to participate in elections.
The plea also points out that students are not permitted to vote through postal ballots or any alternative voting mechanism, resulting in widespread disenfranchisement of young voters enrolled in universities and colleges away from their native places.
The issue was brought before the Apex Court, citing an election law research project undertaken by Jayasudhagar J, a student from the 2024 batch of Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU).
The research identified a constitutional gap in the existing electoral framework with respect to the inclusion of students within the voting population, and examined the denial of effective voting rights to the student community.
Based on the findings of the research, the PIL seeks constitutional relief and appropriate directions to ensure that students are not deprived of their fundamental democratic right to vote solely on account of their place of study.
The matter is listed for hearing before the Supreme Court on January 28 (tomorrow).
The filing of the petition has generated considerable expectation among students across the country, who view the case as a significant step towards strengthening participatory democracy and ensuring greater electoral inclusion of young voters.
The petition is expected to impact a large number of student voters nationwide.
