Rights of Undertrials to Vote

Supreme Court is hearing a plea questioning an electoral law which denies undertrials and convicts their right to vote.

• The petition highlights how the Section 62(5) of RPA (1951) sees both an under-trial and a convicted person equally while the former’s guilt is yet to be proved in a court.

Voting Rights of Prisoners

• Section 62(5) of the RP Act of 1951 mandates that “no person shall vote at any election if he is confined in a prison, whether under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise or is in the lawful custody of the police”.
• The provisions however exempt a ....