'Voting right must made fundamental; essential to safeguard democracy'

New Delhi: The Congress has renewed its demand for granting fundamental rights status to voting rights, arguing that the move is necessary to strengthen democratic protections and safeguard voters against arbitrary actions.

The party contends that voting remains only a statutory right despite being central to the functioning of Indian democracy. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said elevating voting rights to the status of a fundamental right would provide stronger judicial safeguards and help counter what the party describes as partisan interventions in the functioning of the Election Commission, as well as voter-related concerns arising from special revision exercises.

Ramesh also referred to debates held during the framing of the Constitution, noting that the issue of voting rights had been discussed extensively within the advisory committee chaired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. According to him, Dr B R Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram had supported granting voting rights constitutional protection as a fundamental right, while the prevailing view ultimately favoured universal adult franchise without extending such status.

The Congress leader further cited recent judicial developments, including a Supreme Court ruling that recognised the right to walk on designated footpaths as a fundamental right. He argued that if such protections could be extended in that context, the right to vote, which forms the foundation of democratic participation, deserves similar recognition.

Ramesh also pointed to observations made in the 2023 Anoop Baranwal versus Union of India case, where Justice Ajay Rastogi, in a dissenting opinion, viewed voting rights through the lens of fundamental rights.

The Congress maintains that granting constitutional protection to voting rights would enhance judicial oversight of electoral processes and help prevent arbitrary disenfranchisement of voters, thereby strengthening India’s democratic framework.