Respond to poll panel report on NRIs, SC to government

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday asked the government to consider and respond on the report of the committee set up by the Election Commission that has recommended electronic voting or proxy voting by NRIs staying overseas.

An apex court bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice A.K. Sikri asked Additional Solicitor General L. Nageswara Rao to take instructions from the central government and revert in four weeks.

A 12-member committee set up by the Election Cmmission has recommended that NRIs staying overseas could be permitted to cast their vote electronically or by proxy.

The committee, however, rejected the feasibility of NRIs exercising their franchise at the diplomatic missions.

The committee was set up in the wake of the petition filed by a Dubai based NRI seeking rights to exercise the franchise from wherever they are staying abroad.