ECI Rejects Rahul Gandhis CCTV Footage Demand, Cites Voter Privateness Issues
New Delhi: The Election Fee of India (ECI), Saturday responded to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s demand for releasing CCTV footage of polling cubicles within the Maharashtra meeting election, calling it a “politically motivated” transfer. ECI sources consider that publicly releasing such footage could possibly be supposed to harass or profile voters, significantly in cubicles the place a celebration performs poorly.
Safeguarding the privateness and safety of voters is non-negotiable, and video footage of voting can’t be shared with political events or any petitioner except ordered by a reliable court docket. The ECI’s clarification on CCTV footage sharing comes amid Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “fastened elections” and claims of being denied entry to details about voter lists and election footage.
In a point-by-point rebuttal of LoP Rahul Gandhi’s considerations, ECI sources defined the logic behind destroying CCTV footage of a ballot after 45 days and the significance of defending the appropriate of secrecy of electors by not sharing video footage.
An ECI insider stated, “Sustaining privateness and secrecy of the elector is non-negotiable and the ECI has, by no means up to now, compromised on this important tenet which is laid down within the regulation as nicely upheld by the Supreme Courtroom.”
The ECI sources additionally cited a Supreme Courtroom commentary which stated: ‘Giving proper to a voter to not vote for any candidate whereas defending his proper of secrecy is extraordinarily essential in a democracy’.
Clarifying that violation of secrecy of voting is punishable as much as three months’ imprisonment, ECI sources stated that the ballot panel is legally certain and dedicated to defending the privateness of the electors and the secrecy of voting.
“So, video footage from the polling station can’t be given to any particular person, candidate or NGO or any third get together with out the specific consent of the elector(s),” stated a supply.
On LoP Rahul Gandhi’s newest grudge in regards to the destruction of CCTV footage after simply 45 days as a substitute of 1 12 months, an ECI supply stated the ballot panel was below no obligation to retain the footage for greater than 45 days in case of an unchallenged election.
An ECI supply stated, “The Election Fee retains the CCTV footage, which is solely an inner administration software and never a compulsory requirement, for a interval of 45 days, which aligns with the interval laid down for submitting an Election Petition (EP).”
The ECI insider stated that since no election will be challenged past 45 days of the declaration of the outcome, retaining this footage past this era makes it inclined to misuse of the content material by non-contestants for spreading misinformation and malicious narratives.
In case an Election Petition is filed inside 45 days, the CCTV footage is just not destroyed and made out there to the competent court docket when requested for, he stated.
(With Inputs from IANS)
