No Voter Must Be Turned Down

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Context: Petition challenges the Election Commission’s decision to increase voters per polling station from 1,200 to 1,500, arguing it may disenfranchise underprivileged voters.
Relevance : GS 2(Election )
Concerns Raised: Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna emphasised that “no voter should be turned down,” urging the Election Commission to explain its position.
Petition Details: Filed by activist Indu Prakash Singh, it contends that increasing voters per station, instead of adding more EVMs or polling stations, could increase exclusion and overcrowding.
Impact on Voters: The petition claims longer wait times at polling stations could negatively affect daily wage workers, calling for equal participation in elections.
Legal Mandate: The Representation of People Act, 1951 mandates sufficient polling stations for each constituency, which the petition argues is being overlooked.
No Fresh Data: The petition argues the increase lacks support from updated data, especially as no new Census has been conducted since 2011.
EC Justification: Senior advocate Maninder Singh defended the move, stating the limit of 1,500 voters has been in place since 2015, and technological advancements have reduced issues.
Court Direction: Chief Justice Khanna directed the Election Commission to file an affidavit within three weeks.