New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that the video recordings of polling are not erased during the pendency of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the decision to increase the number of voters per polling station.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar issued the direction while hearing the plea against ECI’s decision to raise the maximum number of electors per polling station from 1,200 to 1,500.
The Court also granted the ECI additional time to file a counter-affidavit in compliance with its earlier order.
The bench directed, “Counsel of Respondent 1 seeks more time to file the affidavit in compliance with the order passed on December 2, 2024.
Let the affidavit be filed within three weeks. We find it appropriate to direct that the first Respondent shall maintain the CCTVs from which the videos are recorded as they were doing earlier.”
The CJI had earlier questioned the ECI about measures to manage polling stations if more than 1,500 people arrive to vote, seeking an explanation from the Commission.
The PIL, filed by Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, also challenges recent amendments to the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which prohibit public disclosure of polling CCTV footage and other relevant records.
The petitioner argued that increasing the number of electors per polling station lacks data-driven justification and adversely impacts voters, leading to overcrowding, longer waiting times, and voter fatigue.
The plea highlighted that the ECI’s decision compromises operational efficiency at polling stations, potentially discouraging voters, particularly those from marginalized communities and daily wage workers.
Citing Section 25 of the Representation of the People Act, the plea emphasized the need for sufficient polling stations to avoid structural barriers to voting and promote inclusivity in elections.
The petitioner urged the Court to direct the ECI to maintain the previous cap of 1,200 electors per polling station, as practised from 1957 to 2016, and to progressively reduce the number of electors per booth in future elections to safeguard democratic rights.
The matter remains under the Court’s consideration.