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Showing contexts for: electoral reforms in K. Gurunathan vs Ministry Of Law & Justice on 18 December, 2023Matching Fragments
and background of the case:
The Appellant filed an online RTI application dated 14.06.2022 seeking the following information:-
"Good Morning Sir, had send petition about Election Reformation. I send through register post to joint secretary Ministry of Law and Justice on 18.12.2021. According to the above Post I need the following information's
1. I want an information of what action you have taken so far on the Petition regarding electoral reform that I have sent on 18.12.2021 through Post.
"Please refer to your application dated 4.6.2022) (received on 25.6.2022) on the subject mentioned above. In this regard, it is stated that your application dated 18.12.2021 is under examination of this Department. However, it is stated that the electoral reform is an ongoing and continuous process that involves a major policy decision in consultation with all the stakeholders in these matters. In this connection, the Government has been constantly receiving proposals for electoral reforms from various quarters, from time to time, including the Election Commission of India (the Election Commission) and hence, it could not be implemented within a rigid time frame. In the recent past, the Government after consultation with the Election Commission of India, has taken an initiative and implemented various electoral reforms by enacting the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021. The said Act amended the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which inter alia, provides for the certain electoral reforms, namely-Linking electoral roll data with Aadhaar, Qualifying date of enrolment in electoral roll, Requisitioning of premises for election purposes and Gender-neutral provisions."
In compliance with the order of FAA, the PIO has furnished reply vide letter dated 14.10.2022 as under :
1 & 2: In this regard, it is mentioned that the application dated 18.12.2021 is under examination of this. Department. Further, it is stated that since the aforesaid application is under examination, the question regarding accepting or rejecting the request does not arise.
3. In this connection, it is stated that the electoral reform is an ongoing and continuous process that involves a major policy decision in consultation with all the stakeholders in these matters. Further, the Government has been constantly receiving proposals for electoral reforms from various quarters from time to time including the Election Commission of India and hence, it could not be implemented within a rigid time frame.
4. In this context, it is stated that in the recent past, the Government after consultation with the Election Commission of India, has taken an initiative and implemented various electoral reforms by enacting the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021. The said Act 1951, which inter alia provides for the certain electoral reforms, namely-Linking electoral roll data with Adhar. Qualifying date of enrolment in electoral roll, Requisitioning of premises for election purposes and Gender-neutral provisions.