IVHP miffed over violation of right to secret ballot

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Indraprastha Vishwa Hindu Parishad today expressed its dismay over what it called the violation of the right to secret ballot in the Delhi Assembly elections yesterday.

IVHP President Swadesh Pal said, according the constitutional provisions, every citizen has the right for the secret ballet. But if a voter has to exercise his rights given under the Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, he is bound to disclose his choice before the returning officer and all other people present in the polling booth including the polling agents of different political parties, he added.

Around 1500 youths under the banner of 'Youth For Equality' exercised this option in the Delhi polls yesterday.

Mr Pal said the contravention of this right is an offence punishable with three-month imprisonment by Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

He demanded that not only the option 'none of the above' be provided at the bottom of the names of candidates in the electronic voting machines to ensure secrecy of ballot but the voters and election staff should also be educated in this regard.

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